Walk home Alone

You leave Krystal in the pub. She doesn’t look so disappointed. You can see her already assessing the other men in the saloon bar.

Outside evening is darkening, night rapidly descending.

“You two alright walking in this?” you ask the two women. They both say they will be, but you’re not convinced. It would be gentlemanly for you to escort them. Except Abigail isn’t going back to the school and Anissa is. Apparently, she walked to school this morning, and her flat is in the other direction.

Unable to escort both, you decide to escort neither. You watch the women walk their separate ways through the night and then head home. The streets are dark and empty, with only the occasional car driving past. Windows are ablaze, revealing vignettes of home life in those who haven’t yet drawn their curtains. Children playing on computers or phones. Parents slumped in front of TVs. Mothers cooking. Father’s catching up on the news. Pets playing.

Your own house is dark and empty.