Light after dark

LUCAS

Have anyone of you ever wondered, what would happen if you are the only person left on earth? I know the saying that no man is an island and I believe that. Even though I said that, would you believe me, when I say that one morning when I woke up, everyone, no, all of the living things are gone? How do I confirm something like this, well, It has been like this since last week. Not a single person I know or not has shown. The buildings, their houses, their cars and each of the streets are empty. It’s like there was an alien invasion the day before, but I ought not to think something like that.

For the first time in my life, I was living the dream. Who would’ve thought that living alone can feel great! Well, you see it’s like this, first of all, I don’t need a job, because I don’t need that thing you called money. What do you need the money for? To buy things, but here I don’t need to buy anything. I don’t have bills to pay, necessities like electricity, water, and rent. I just get my food and walk towards any grocery store. For this whole week, I can’t believe I did everything that I ever wanted. If this is a dream, please I beg you, never to wake me up.

***

It’s been one month since the world became like this, to be honest, I did everything, a human, like me, can manage to do. 3 weeks ago, I was a gamer, I wanted to have a high-end spec PC. Now sitting in front of my self-built gaming PC, things have gotten a bit stale. Back then, I wished to play all those new “AAA” rate games, now I only have 2 more games until I finished them all. I moved out of my shitty apartment and moved to a more stunning flat. I did that through the 2nd week, I moved to a high rise condominium, I always pass when going to work. I always admire that building but now, I live at the condo’s penthouse. Oh, and I always wanted a car, I would always imagine how it feels to drive your car. I always tell myself, that when I’m rich I will buy a 1993 Toyota Supra Mk IV, now I have one and 5 more other cars.

Sometimes, I miss my work. A month ago, I was always complaining, about how tiresome that job I had. I was a store crew at a convenience store. My work consists of arranging the display of items for sale, cashiering, and cleaning the vicinity of our workspace. To add to that, I had the worst store leader. F*ck that sh*t, I never hated anyone like that. She was abusive as hell, I can’t believe someone like that existed. Thinking back on it, I wonder where she is now… Oh right, she’s gone… just like everybody.

***

2 months since the incident happen. I call it “ incident” now. I started to walk outside, reading the same newspaper when I walk to work, oh not anymore, I guess. The newspaper had the same date “ August 16, 20xx”. One time, I tried looking for somebody, I entered, every house and building starting in the condominium where I moved. I don’t know why I’m like this, maybe I miss people. Maybe that was the feeling I felt. I’m not lonely or anything, but I just want someone to talk to. I mean, just anyone who I can brag about something, someone who can celebrate, congratulate or hang out with. Before this incident, I always hated people’s affection. When they give their attention to me, I push them away.

My parents were a good example, I know from the bottom of my heart, they loved me and I love them, but as a worthless, good for nothing son, I never showed them what I felt. I always showed them how I hate them and how our life was miserable because we were poor. Yeah, that is how I am, I always blame them for everything. Now, I wanted to see them. Ever since I moved out of the house, I never had the time to visit or say hello. During these 2 months, I always thought about what are they doing right before the “incident” happen.

Lastly, I visited the boarding house where my “Ex-girlfriend” lives. I call her “Ex” now. Memories of 2 months ago is still fresh in my mind. The night before the incident happens, we were on a date. We had our usual date, we ate at a restaurant where she wanted to eat, we have gone to places she wanted to go to. I was always impatient with her, it’s like whenever she is sensitive, then I was more insensitive. Back then, I’d like to think of her as a nuisance. I love her, but I sometimes don’t want to see her, sometimes we hate each other guts, oh wait it’s not sometimes, more like every day.

I took a spin in her room. I looked at our pictures displayed and scattered across the room. Who can blame her, we were like almost 7 years if she didn’t break up with me. That day, on our date, she said something to me. I know she wanted to hurt me, well I think she did hurt me. She said it like this, right before we end our date.

“Look, I know we have been together for years, I still remember how we came to be, but I don’t think I can go on. I would be happy if you let me go. Maybe we should be that way. Please break up with me…”

She said it like that. I can’t believe she said something like that. Just as she requested I broke up with her. Going home that day before I knew, tears were welling up my eyes. Up until this moment, I always thought about what went wrong until I saw all the photos left in her room. Then a question comes popping in my mind.

When was the last time, I made her happy? When was the last time I gave her gifts? When was the last time we celebrated each other birthday’s together? No, more importantly, when did I became so selfish.

I thought hard and came up with nothing. Still looking at the photos, the “me” in it has much more life than the “me” today. I haven’t finished the photos and my foot dragged me out of the room. Before I exited, I took the photo album that “Alexa” made.

4th month of the “incident”. I’m starting to lose track of time. The weird thing is the night is getting longer while the daytime is shorter. I don’t know if I am the only one who can notice it but… Oh right… I am alone. During this “incident”, I found another weird thing. No matter how long this “incident” had gone, I never ran out of food. I noticed these, 3 months in the “incident” but the perishable goods that should have been spoiled or perished are still fresh and look like it was just delivered yesterday. I know how to look because of where I last worked.

I also stopped going outside. I felt something strange, the time when I went to where my parents live. It was in the third month, 2 or 3 weeks, I don’t know I didn’t keep time but 2 or 3 weeks after I visited my ex’ I drove my Supra and went to my hometown. Upon arriving at my hometown, my hunch was right all along. At first, I only thought about it but now I can confirm it. I am the only remaining human being. I thought it was a prank on a variety show, now I can tell that what happened was something this serious. I entered my house and looked at it on a brief moment, then the memories came flooding in. I took the family album my mom used to make and all of the pics of me growing which my mom captured.

Going to my parent’s isn’t a problem, its the going back home does. I was driving back to my condo flat when I noticed something. I stopped by the grocery store to get something to eat when I saw a human-ish figure standing in the corner of the store. At first, I was happy that after a long time of absence, at last my first human being! I approach the man in the corner. As I walk towards “him” he began to sprint towards me. He walked in a disoriented manner like he had an injury in his foot. I backed up as I noticed what he is doing. “He” came from the dark so I never had a chance to take a good look at how “He” looked, but upon coming to the light of the room where I stopped, I figured out how “he” no, “It” looked. It had a form of a human but it doesn’t have a face. By reflex, I ran towards the exit trying not to get caught by “it”. I thought I was going to the exit safely but there was another one standing near the door. “It” managed to grab me but I slip past through its grip. It was a good thing that it doesn’t run that fast so I can outrun “it” and got to my Supra in time and went to my condo flat. After the adrenaline fades, I felt that “It” managed to scratch my arm while I was struggling to free myself earlier.

That happened over a month ago, right after, I barricaded all of my windows in the penthouse and the only entrance that leads to my flat. It was a good thing that I stocked up on food and supplies for the past 3 months but I am getting fidgety inside the penthouse flat all alone. Now, I pray that someone shows up, I hope someone helps me, and I miss everyone. Please if this is a dream, no, this is a nightmare, please let me wake up!

***

I’m tired… It has been a while since I lost track of time, being inside my barricaded condo all the time. I can’t tell apart if it is day or night anymore. I can’t get enough sleep, I feel like if I slept comfortably, they can barge inside without me knowing. My stock of food became more scarce. I stopped going out ever since that day, I feel that they multiply by the minute. I don’t know what to do, I think I’m starting to lose it. Thinking back on what the world was before the incident and the world now, I think I would choose the world before. I can’t help but to pity myself, ironically speaking, this is what I wish for and now it has been given. I would do everything to see another living soul. I want out. If anyone or can anyone, please save me!