Nevermore
I woke this morning to a sound I'd heard before. At first I couldn't quite place it. It was like a hollow scream. It startled me. I worried for a moment that it could be a human scream, but the more I heard it, the more I knew it wasn't. It was animal. I didn't have to ponder for too long before I remembered what it was. It was the call of the raven. I hadn't heard a raven's call since I was in the Rocky Mountains. Then it haunted me. I felt like the raven was telling me, "This isn't your place. You don't belong in the mountains. Go back to the sea." But here I was at the sea now. What was the raven telling me now? Why was it here? They usually don't come around here. This area is populated with crows, and the crows usually keep the ravens away. I got up and went out to investigate. Sure enough, there were two ravens in the bare maple tree. The crows were there too, trying their best the spook the ravens and make them leave.
The shock of seeing the ravens here took me out of a trance I'd been in. It seems like weeks had gone by since I really did anything more than the basic things. I woke up. Started a fire to warm the compound, and hopefully dry it out a bit... like I've mentioned before, things are never really dry around here. Then I would drink my coffee, wander on the beach for hours, come home, eat from my dwindling supply of my provisions, drink some bourbon, and fall asleep. I couldn't even remember the last time I talked to a person, or even turned on the radio to hear what was going on in the world. What really struck me was how low the coffee and bourbon were. Not to mention the food. I decided it was time to hike up the cliffs, and visit the city. I put on my nicest, cleanest looking clothes, brushed my hair (that took some doing), and off I went.
Something strange was in the air. The people acted differently. There was more people out walking than usual, but what they did confused me. They almost always walked in pairs, often with a dog on a leash. As I approached a couple, they would smile and say hi, but then step out into the street to avoid getting near me. At first I thought something must me wrong with the way I looked. I stopped in front of a window and looked at my reflection. I seemed fine. I looked like a normal person as far as I could tell. Then I started watching the people some more. I noticed it wasn't just me, they were doing it to each other too. Friendly, but distant. All of them too. It was like the whole world got a memo to act in a new way. They all knew to do it. Everyone except me. I tried to stop a couple and ask them what was going on, but as soon as I approached them, they got upset and yelled, "Six feet!" and stepped back from me. I was too bewildered to talk to them anymore. I gave up, and just kept my distance from the people until I got to the grocery store.
When I arrived at the store, a man wearing gloves stopped me from entering. He told me to wait outside, and he pointed to an area in the parking lot that was taped off. Other people were waiting there too, and when I walked to the area, they all stepped back to give me room. The people all kept apart. I stood there staring at my feet for maybe fifteen minutes until the man with the gloves told me it was my turn to come into the store. I was sure this was the same store I'd always gone to, but it felt so different inside. Mostly because there was a lot less stuff in it, and like out on the streets, the people seemed afraid of getting too close to each other. At least there was enough of what I needed. I got enough coffee to last me quite some time. I had to settle for some cheap bourbon. The good kind was gone. I treated myself to some fresh fruit, and then got as many cans of food I could imagine being able to carry back to the compound. Even in the line, people were standing apart. When it was time to purchase my food, they would not let me use the bags I brought. They put it all in paper bags for me and scooted me out of the store. I had to stand there in the parking lot rearranging all the stuff into my bags. I had the same bizarre trek back home, but at least this way I was more aware to keep away from the other people.
When I got home, I put my things away, and contemplated turning on the radio, though part of me was afraid of what I would hear. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight I think I'll just enjoy my fresh fruit, and finish the last of my good bourbon.