By Yash Seyedbagheri
Nick’s used to funereal emptiness on the streets, even while the sun shines and the moon dances.
A sputtering truck or pedestrian’s conversations make him recoil. Why are they out? Are they looking for toilet paper to foist? Will they kill him?
Nick has to laugh. What happened to the man who believed in goodness?
They’re probably getting air on the way to the store. They need reminders of fleeting beauty.
But how do you know with certainty?
Nick draws the shutters, sticks in headphones, barricades the doors. Tries to block shame, hides the toilet paper.
He thinks he’s prepared.
Love that ending!
Sounds like someone haunted by the doom and gloom of the world. Love how the story started.
I love that writers are capturing Covid-19. Apparently few writers managed to capture the 1918 flu–hardly mentioned. Maybe that’s because they were used to quarantines then for things like the Measles and Scarlet Fever. So, for starters, I was happy you captured this experience. I also like the end of the story. One small thing bothers me: “funereal emptiness.” As an image, it puzzles me. Funerals create processions. Just something to think about. It just jarred me. Otherwise, nice job! There is closure at the end.