Nothing Left

The Beginning

The day started as any would. I woke up in my usual fog and stumbled my way into the kitchen to get my morning coffee. After adding a little bit too much sugar i headed out the door and got in my car. The drive to work was the same as every other day. I sat in traffic for exactly 43 minutes as i made my way downtown. Truthfully, I should've made the move out into town years ago. I could afford it with the amount i worked. It's not like that was the problem, but i liked the house i had.. It was quiet, peaceful and the neighbors weren't complete ass-hats.

I worked in an office building. I created spreadsheets, filled out forms and made sales calls all day. It was boring, sure, but it was work. I put in my time then went home to relax. I had a couple friends at the office. There was Terry, Joanne, and Kyle. They were my favourites. Terry was a middle aged father of three, who got stuck in this job in an effort to make enough money to send his kids to college. That doesn't mean he wasn't fun. He was always ready with a joke. Joanne was like the popular girl in the office. Everyone had a thing for her at one time or another. But I was lucky enough to have her as a friend. She was very caring. Me and her could talk for hours. Most nights after work we would hang out on the roof, have a couple beers and talk about whatever shit was going on in our lives. We understood each other. In a strange way, we were connected. She was cool. Maybe the coolest person i had ever known. Kyle was just a little shit. But we all loved him. He was young, way too young to be working where he did. Nobody really knew much about him. He would never really talk about personal stuff. He would more just cause mischief around the office. Play pranks on our coworkers, that kind of thing.

After work and after after work beers with Joanne i would make my way back home. I lived alone. My only real friends were at work. As sad at it sounds, it was actually quite nice. I saw everyone on a schedule, It made life a lot easier. At home i didn't have to worry about anyone but myself. It was my downtime. I usually made myself a quick meal and watched whatever was on TV that night. Then in the morning i went and did it all again. I couldn't ask for a better life. The structured life is what makes sense to me. I like knowing what to do, when to do it. I liked having my friends to keep the days from getting lost on me.

But as all things, it couldn't stay that way forever. This particular day, it all had to change. The world had to end. I just so happened to be the only one who was able to witness it. Now I'm not sure exactly what happened but i knew something was up when i got to work in 15 minutes flat. There was not a single car on the road besides mine that day. At the office, again, there wasn't a soul to be seen. I was confused to say the least. I began trying to thing of an explanation.. Maybe it was a Saturday? But that wouldn't explain the complete lack of ANYBODY. I drove back home. I tried to turn on the TV, maybe the news would offer some kind of alibi but there was none. The news was non existent. The TV didn't even work. Not a single feed came through. I tried the radio next, again there was nothing but dead air. I went back outside. I knocked on every door on my street but not a single answer was heard. The complete lack of explanation was starting to get to be. I tried calling my parents, maybe they would be there... No. I tried the police, the hospital, the damn pizza place. Nothing. No answers. I was frustrated.

I drove around for awhile, seeing if i could find someone. But still, there was nothing. Not even a goddamn body. It's like everyone just up and left. But nothing was disturbed even. Literally nothing was touched. Nothing was out of place, nothing was out of order. Then the power went out. I noticed when i saw that the traffic lights were no longer a sea of perfect green. I became even more distressed. Was this it? Is this how our great world ends? Not with a bang but with a whimper? Hell, not even a whimper, just a.. Well nothing. Leaving only one man to fend for himself?

This couldn't be it. It just couldn't. There's no way that this was possible. There has to be some explanation. An incredibly elaborate practical joke put together by Kyle and Joanne. Just to screw with me. Maybe there was some big event that i was missing. Maybe the whole planet just all suddenly had to attend some global meeting and i just never got my invitation. Something. Anything. Please. This cant be it. It just can't be. This is not the way the world ends. Not like this. It's not possible. It just doesn't make any damn sense. I refuse to believe that this is how we go out. There's no way we've worked this hard just for this... Is there?