I put my phone away, shaking my head with aggravation. It’s ridiculous that we’re in the middle of the storm of the century and his work won’t let him leave. He needs to quit, and if he doesn’t see it after this then my brother is the biggest idiot to ever exist.
My stomach rumbles with hunger. I heat up some leftover takeout, sitting at the bar top to eat on my own.
The lights flicker and I look around in fear.
Please stay on, please stay on, I silently chant to myself.
They flicker again before cutting out completely.
A small scream tears out of my throat. I slap my hand over my mouth, quieting the sound.
The condo is enveloped in complete darkness, save for the pure white out the window. Abandoning my food, I stumble over to where I left my phone.
The screen lights up and I text Sage again.
Me: The power is out.
Sage: It’s out here too.
Me: Are you coming home?
Sage: The snow is too deep already. We’re stuck here regardless of the power being out.
“You have to be kidding me,” I mutter to myself.
Me: Be safe.
Tucking my phone in my back pocket, I take a deep breath, trying to think if there are any candles anywhere.
But I already know there aren’t, because Sage claims they give him a headache.
Me: Do we have a flashlight.
Sage: Check the drawer by the sink.
Navigating around the room, I bump my hip on the arm of the couch before I finally make it to the kitchen. I open the drawer and pull out the large flashlight, clicking it on.
Nothing.
Me: The batteries are dead. Do we have batteries?
My panic is rising, threatening to close my throat and suffocate me.
I’m alone, in a dark and empty condo. This is a recipe for disaster.
Sage: Fuck. No. Sorry, D.
I let out a groan of frustration.
Sage: Are you going to be okay?
Me: I have to be.
Sage: I don’t think I’m getting out of here tonight. Maybe not even tomorrow.
I stare at his text, biting back anger.
If he’d just come home, or quit this stupid job, I wouldn’t be home alone right now in a pitch-black apartment, moments away from losing my ever-loving shit.