I could hear my breathing before I came to. My heartbeat pounding in my ears. My eyes felt heavy, like I was still asleep.

   I forced them open, seeing a bright light shining over me. Was I dead..?

   As the light faded, a room came in to view. It was my bedroom, but something seemed off. My husband, he was gone. Maybe he went to work already.

   I sat up in bed, stretching my arms over my head before looking over at the alarm clock. It was after three in the afternoon. The kids should be back from school any minute.

   After getting dressed, I made my way into the bathroom, looking at my reflection in the mirror. "You must've had a long night."

   As much as I tried, though, I couldn't remember what happened last night. Or the day before for that matter.

   "You really need to quit drinking." I joked to myself, making my way into the kitchen afterwards.

   I got started on dinner as the time ticked by. No sign of the kids yet. One quick check of my watch told me they should've been here by now. "What's keeping them?"

   I set the timer on the oven before making my way to the front door, pulling it open.

   The neighborhood was surprisingly quiet this afternoon.

   I walked out onto the front porch, looking down the street. No cars. No people. Then, my eyes shifted up to the clear, sunny sky. "That's weird..."

   My feet carried me to the sidewalk, my eyes darting to the neighbors house. I walked next door, knocking on the front door. "Cindy? Paul? Are you guys home?"

   Nothing.

   I looked over to the car in their driveway before peaking through the front window.

   With a sigh, I walked to the next house, knocking on their door as well. After three or four houses, I gave up, heading back home. Still no sign of the kids.

   I took dinner out of the oven, deciding to head in to town. I felt panic starting to set in the back of my mind, finding different reasons to talk myself out of it. "Maybe there's a parade... Or a concert... Or the Pope's in town..."

   Unfortunately the town was just as quiet as my street. I looked out my car window, every business and restaurant was open, but no one seemed to be there. No patrons, no employees.

   "Where is everyone..?"

   I stopped at my husbands job. He was a lawyer, working at a small law firm here in town.

   The door was unlocked, but the front desk was empty.

   "Hello? Is anyone here?" I called out.

   Only silence greeted me.

   I made my way towards my husbands office, knocking on the door before pushing it open.

   It was empty, all of his belongings still sitting on top of his desk.

   I picked up his cell phone, turning the screen on. He tried to call me fifty-two times? Why?

   The panic grew as I ran out of the building, standing in the middle of the street. "Hello!? Is anyone there!?" I yelled.

   Still nothing.

   I ran back to my car, taking off towards the school...

   Cars sat in the parking lot, school buses lined up by the main entrance. Just as I suspected, though, there wasn't any sign of human life. Or any life. It was just me...

   I called every contact in my phone, checked every TV channel, every radio station... Nothing... Absolutely nothing...

   My phone fell from my hands, landing hard against the kitchen table as tears filled my eyes. "This can't be happening... I must be dreaming..."

   I felt my heartbeat quicken, my chest tightening. I was hyperventilating.

   My hand clutched my chest as I collapsed out of my seat, my lungs desperately trying to pull in air.

   I needed to relax. I was having a panic attack.

   I tried to slow my breathing, laying out flat on the floor. "Relax, Zoe... Relax..."

   The first few weeks were hell. I didn't know what to do with myself. I cried myself to sleep every night and every morning I woke up, I had to relive the terrible realization all over again... I was alone...

   I sat at the kitchen table, picking at my food, my chin resting in my free hand.

   My appetite came and went depending on the day. I knew I needed to eat, but sometimes I just couldn't. "What's the point?"

   With a role of my eyes, I stood from the table, making my way to the kids room.

   I leaned against the doorframe, looking over their perfectly made beds, all their toys neatly put away. A few tears welled in my eyes.

   I had no idea what happened to them. Where they went. If they felt any pain. If I'd ever see them again.

   My hope of seeing my family again vanished after the first month, yet I couldn't bring myself to leave this house. What if they came back and I wasn't here? How would they find me?

   I stepped further into their room, sitting on the edge of one of the beds.

   A framed picture sat on the nightstand between the two beds. My chest tightened as I picked it up, looking down at our smiling faces.

   I ran my finger over the glass, the tears in my eyes finally spilling over. "Please... Please come home..."

—————

   I stood in the front yard, looking over three crosses. Each adorned with a name and one personal item.

   My chest tightened, I couldn't tear my eyes off the small memorial. But, I knew I had to.

   I decided I couldn't stay here any longer. I needed to move. I needed food.

   And, if there was anyone else out there, I needed to find them. I couldn't stay here on my one anymore, or else...

   I shook my head, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Maybe I'll see you again, some day..."

   With one last look, I made my way over to my car, getting in the drivers seat.

   I started it up, taking off towards the city...