Empty

The house was as empty as the rest. He supposed he should stop hoping for something different. It seemed whoever was here had been preparing for a celebration of some sort. The decorations were mainly white with an occasional blush of pink. There were polished candlesticks, roses set in antique glass, and lace tablecloths. He ran his hand over the lace feeling the delicate knots. He did not think he had ever actually felt lace before.

None of the candles were lit and all the treats and finger foods were laid out and prettily displayed with no evidence anyone had taken a nibble. They must have just finished and been ready to start when it happened. He picked up a piece of shortbread and raised it to his lips only to realize he was not hungry. He put it back. It dawned on him he had not eaten or drunk anything since he woke up to find the world empty.

Well, he did not know that to be true. But he certainly had not seen a soul all week. He had taken to diving from town to town looking for people. All he found were empty houses left in a state as if the owners had simply stepped out for a moment. He rubbed one of the roses’ smooth leaves, the stem chimed against the glass, and admired the shade of its petals. It did not look, or feel, wilted at all. Only a week had passed, but he suspected somehow entropy was no longer at work.

The sun continued to move though. It was in the process of setting now. He decided to stay here for the night. The lake caught his eye through the window and he stepped outside. He looked out over the water, a light breeze ruffling the surface. The setting sun reflected back at him as a thousand golden stars.

Here he was. Alone. Without need to eat or drink. The world around him suspended and held in place. He worried if he remained by mistake. He worried if he remained on purpose. He worried if he remained for a purpose but did not know it. This fretfulness was useless however and he put it away like he did each previous evening. Today was a long day. Tomorrow there was still much to see, to hear, and to feel.