The dim lights flicker above me as I earnestly walk towards my one bedroom apartment that I share with you. You sleep on the couch. The couch is empty. The orange knitted blanket you usually sleep with is thrown over the coffee table beside it. Your favorite mug is filled to the brim with a dark brown liquid. Tea, I think. I shake my head-you always fill it up too much and end up spilling it- but this time it looks as if you haven’t even tried to take a sip. I pick it up and take a sip, looking around to see if you’re watching. You hate when I drink your tea. It’s cold. Almost as if you have just put ice in it. But there’s no ice. And as I look around our empty apartment, I realize there is no you either. I’m all alone except for your cold tea and orange blanket.

I take out my phone. Maybe you’re at a friends and forgot to tell me. But then why would your tea be cold? You always finish it. I look at our recent texts and the last one is from this morning. You were asking if we could get a dog. For intruders. Why would you be scared of intruders. You never have been before. In fact, you always insist that we leave the windows open at night, for airflow you say. I sigh and am about to put my phone away when I notice a message in my inbox. It’s from you.

“Aggie, they’re coming for me. Don’t go home. I won’t be there. They’ll already have gotten me. They’ll get you next.” I start to laugh and throw my phone on the coffee table.

“Okay, very funny, Frankie, but jokes over. I’m gonna put some pizza in the oven.” Nothing. “Or I can buy some sushi. My treat.” Loud silence follows my statement. You always want sushi. What’s gotten up with you.

And then the silence is broken and everything goes dark.