"Oblivion"

By Kira Rodriguez, Contributor

The ear-piercing honking of the alarm woke me from my gentle sleep. The sun hid just below the horizon, and the cool autumn air seeped through the window which was open a crack. I rolled out of bed, dragging my fuzzy pink blanket with me. I dug through my wardrobe searching for a warm outfit to wear before hopping into the shower. I walked down the quiet hall, expecting the autumn wind to be howling and the crows to be screeching outside. My tired footsteps were all I heard.

I turned the shower on, steam filling up the bathroom. I stepped in and stood under the hot water, letting it gently burn my skin. It was the only thing that woke me up so early in the morning. I washed up, brushed my hair and dressed like every other morning. The sun slowly crept up the horizon, its rays glistening off the dew that rested on the grass and the brightly colored autumn leaves. My roommate lay still, her breath barely noticeable, as I passed by her room. Blair came home late when she worked a four-hour shift after her Thursday afternoon classes. It was normal that she was still asleep when I returned from my shower.

I went into the kitchen and dug through the pots and pans, searching through the clinking and clattering cookware for a small pan. With some butter, I cracked two eggs into the pan and tossed two slices of bread into the toaster. I ate and turned the TV on, flicking through the channels looking for Channel Seven News Live. 

Static. 

The gray fuzz consumed every channel; not one was left untouched. I turned the TV off and opened the news app on my phone. I watched the circle spin round and round, waiting to hear the deep soothing voice of the morning news anchor. I looked at the clock on the microwave that flashed 7:45. I looked down the hall, expecting Blair to rise from the dead and walk into the bathroom across the hall. Not a rustle of her blanket escaped her room. I tossed my breakfast dishes into the sink and rinsed hot water over them. I walked past her room and peeked in. Her blanket lay flat as if tossed onto the bed without much care. I walked further down the hall, expecting the bathroom door to be closed and the sound of splashing water hitting the sink bowl. The door was open just enough for someone to squeeze in. I knocked. Nothing. Blair was light on her feet, sneaking by people with ease. I thought I had just missed her.

The clock flashed 8:05 on my phone. I grabbed my stuff for school and scurried out the door. The campus apartment building we lived in was one of the farthest student housing buildings from the ancient academic buildings that towered over the main quad. The hustle and bustle of students walking and biking to class brought life to the campus…most days. The leaves lay flat on the ground, waiting impatiently for students to walk over them. While most days, squirrels ran alongside students, not one could be found. I listened for the chirps of the morning birds and the screeching of cars in stop-and-go traffic on the nearby streets.

Nothing.

I checked the time on my phone again. 8:15 a.m. I walked up the shallow steps of the Old Broadway academic building, where most English and religion classes are held. The eerie stillness of the quad followed me into the building. Books and bags were scattered on the ground, a vacuum without an owner hummed down the hall. I closed my eyes and stepped into the classroom, my heart sinking deeper and deeper into my stomach as I held my breath. I opened my eyes. No one. I checked the time. 8:23 a.m. A piece of chalk sat on the table, rocking back and forth. A laptop sat open on one of the desks, the cursor still blinking after a few typed letters.

I dropped my stuff onto a desk and ran out the door. The vacuum still hummed down the hall, harmonizing with my racing heart. I ran down the front steps of the building and out to Broadway Avenue. Cars lined the busy street; some rested neatly between the yellow lines, while most sat crammed against the car ahead or a street sign, the front end crinked and bent. Dog collars and leashes lined the sidewalks, phones and coffee cups sat beside them, coffee dribbling out into a puddle. Lights flashed from the broken cars as I walked between them. 

“Hello!”

The air stood still as I waited for an answer.