Elizabeth Went Outside for a Walk
Tuesday morning.
Elizabeth is feeding the Cat. The Cat is purring while eating saucy meat. Elizabeth put her working clothes on, almost like a uniform. Albeit she has been working from home for three years now, she cannot work in pajamas. Over the years, she acquired a proper dress code in the corporation she worked for.
She decided to go freelance. During the pandemic, she made her space in the apartment and called it “my creativity cave.”
She remembered how she started, convinced of total success by reading crappy stories on different websites. Total disaster. The first job she had after three months. She struggled, and business is going well, not too much work, enough money and time. Great!
She sat in front of a computer and started writing. The customer needs her expertise in algae development in a photobioreactor facility. Totally her niche. She wrote using notes from papers. From time to time, she turns her head to check on the Cat. The Cat is sleeping. Everything is fine.
Tuesday, 1:00 PM
Notification jumps up. She must remember to check on emails. Nothing. Not even one.
A little weird, she thinks.
Usually, there are at least ten of them by afternoon. Never mind that she checked on messages. All messages she sent still need to be sent; the instant messenger system is probably down. Again.
Elizabeth continues her work.
Tuesday 3:00 PM
I have enough, she said to herself. She has stayed in her place since Saturday.
Come on, Cat, let’s eat. The lazy Cat stretches and follows her to the kitchen. Tuna fish. Cat’s favorite.
What would I like to eat today? I could visit a local french restaurant — small, quiet, and cozy.
She took her purse and coat.
Tuesday 3:10 PM
This is weird; probably another movie shoot.
Her street is very often used for scenery. Old town. It is very close as there is no one around.
The restaurant is closed.
Fuck, said Elizabeth out loud.
Friday 6:00 AM
Elizabeth wakes up. Cat is sleeping next to her in the grass of Central Park.
She checks her phone. Nothing. Nothing at all.
Friday 8:00 AM
She is not confused anymore. For the last three days, she did not see people. No woman. No man. No black. No white. No one. Everything is fine. Parked cars, working traffic lights. Birds singing.
No trace of humankind.
Lovely, she says. Smiling.
