She's been alone.

The woman had her face buried in his chest and was sobbing. Not knowing what else to do, he embraced her, patted her head, and said, “It’s O.K.”

In those strange, quiet streets, they held each other. One of them confused and the other relieved. The woman finally composed herself and said, “You…you’re from the real world aren’t you?”

“The real world? What do you mean?”

A look of anxiety came over her face, “You know, the real world, where people are normal, where ATM machines don’t cure diseases,” she threw her hands out and gestured all around her, “where a city like this wouldn’t be empty.”

David replied, “I don’t concussion? You mean what I’ve been seeing is real?”

She relaxed. “Yes! Well, no…real? I don’t even know what that word means anymore.”

“Just start from the beginning. Where are we?”

She sat down on the curb. David sat beside her. She said, “I call this place the Underground. I was riding the trains one day and I got off at my usual stop, but it wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I was in that train station. All the lines, all the roads, everything eventually ends up there. It’s a safe place, like this city, but nobody ever talks to you there. You saw all those people inside? They don’t go anywhere, they just drift about like ghosts trying to remember their lives.”

“What about this city?” He said looking around at the empty skyscrapers.

“It’s devoid of life. Everything works, but there isn’t anyone here. I used to live here, but I got so lonely that I had to leave. I’ve been trying to find my way back to the real world, but I can’t. If I travel too far from the station, men like the ones who attacked us come after me.”

She put her head on his shoulder, “I know it’s selfish of me to thinks so, but I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad I’m not the only one anymore.”

Despite the bizarre turn of events, David felt a sense of empowerment, as if her weakness was giving him strength. He took her hand into his and said, “We’re going to figure this place out together. We’ll find a way out.” He looked at her face, streaked with blood and mud. He said, “Let’s get you cleaned up. I’m sure there’s a person somewhere under that dirt.”

He could see her blush through the grime. She stood up and said, “Yeah…I, I guess I look pretty bad, don’t I? I just…when you live here long enough…”

He chuckled and rose to his feet, “You don’t have to try to defend yourself to me. I can imagine with what you’ve been through, appearances sort of fall to wayside.”