He went to school without really knowing why (did it really matter now?) and found the school gate locked. He heard a girl in a side corner where the maroon gate curves a left. “Adam?” the girl came closer. “Adam Perkins?” she said. She was in the same yellow and dark blue uniform jersey as Adam, wearing a dark blue blazer and a grey skirt, with matching long socks. A purple Nike school bag on her shoulders.

“what the hell…?” she said, her pretty face looking around at the emptiness of the street opposite the school. And the school itself made them feel like they were so early they were the first two people to come here that day, before anyone else. They were suppose to be singing in the assembly right now at this moment. “where the hell is everyone?” she asked.

“wha—wha—what makes you think I kno—know that?” Adam said. The shock lessened from him. He was glad to see this girl, the fact that she was in the same school as him made things a little better.

The usual high school noises they were both used to: girls gossiping, boys making fun at each other, teachers telling them to keep quiet, “go to your classes,” the security here at the gate urging the late learners to hurry up, the principal speaking at the assembly. Nothing. No sound. Just an empty packet chips wrapper (Nik Naks) rolled by the wind.

Brodus telling Adam, “Ha! I knew you are a good kid,” as he hands him the assignment. Nowhere to be heard.

“HELLO!” Adam yelled and looked around.

“it’s no use,” the girl said. “me too I didn’t see anyone when I came here. Who you saw?”

“No—nobody.”

“Parents?”

“They’re gone.”

“Mine too,” she said.

“why—why youuuu smiling?”

“There’s no school today. Everybody vanished.”

“I—I don’t think that’sss true,” Adam said. He paused in thoughts, trying to conjure up logic against this bizareness. What’s the meaning of all this? He looked at the girl, and glanced down again. Why is it only me and her? What happened to everyone?

“I think we ssshhhhould—should look for the—the—the others, other—others, damm, fuck!” he slapped his thighs, angry at his slow and difficult tongue. The girl laughed at him.

When he was young his mom Abigail used to tell him that the stutter will disappear one day he won’t even notice it as he speaks calmly. Now he was nineteen and the only thing which seems to have disappeared is her.

“Any—anyways. We. Need. To. Look. For. The. Others. It. Can’t. Just. Be. Me and you who—who…” he took a breath for a second. “it can’t jus—just be me and you.”

“Well, I know just the right place we should check out,” the girl said. “let’s go, Mr. Stemmer.”

“Don—don—don’t call me that.”

“O—ok—okay. I—I—wo—won’t,” she said and laughed.