empty roads

this is my entry to qurators photo quest: empty roads

there was a dreadful storm last night. the wind was howling terribly and it was raining and totally black when i went to bed. some time before dawn the wind died and the temperature had dropped leaving a lovely blanket of white everywhere. so wonderfully light and pristine. though the sky was still gray, the snow was a real relief from the unending darkness of november. i was especially eager to get out for a walk around town. there is something magic about the first snow of the year. the streets are always cheerful and full of life. children playing, folks walking their dogs, maybe even a few out skiing or kicksledding, hurrying to get out before the snowplows come and destroy it all.

so imagine my surprise when there was nobody. no kids, no dogwalkers, no kicksleds, no cars, not even tracks. there's always cars parked along this street. where did they go? very strange.
nothing, not a soul. i shivered when it struck me how lifeless everything seemed. the bare trees certainly didn't help. a nagging uneasiness emerged, attaching itself to what i first perceived as beauty. where is everybody?

certainly there would be people in the park welcoming the snow but to my amazement, no one! no kids, no dogwalkers, not even a crow! chills ran down my spine and it wasn't due to the cold.

i came out on the main road and even there was totally empty. it was a relief to at least see the car tracks. finally a sign of life. i stood on the corner for what seemed forever waiting for a car to pass. but none ever did. there must be some cars, these tracks were from this morning because yesterday there was no snow. there must be somebody around.

suddenly, instantly, as i stood there it became darker. not pitch black but noticeably darker. all at once, within a blink of the eye. unmistakably darker, just like that. it was all too much.

i wandered the streets and returned to my house and still nobody. i didn't go in, i stood by my gate, determined to see somebody, anybody or any living moving thing, even a pigeon would do. i was not going inside until i saw some sign of life.

and there i am still standing