and now I just sit in silence

He does the same thing everyday.

Wake up. Eat. Go back to bed.

Sometimes he checks his phone, but not always. It's just constant messages from Mark, Tyler, Amy, and Kathryn. They miss him. They wonder what he's up to.

Ethan, I know this is hard, but please answer so we can talk.

Ethan please. we miss you.

Ethan, it's been weeks.

He looks, but he doesn't answer. Each message seems to get more desperate then the last. Mark visited one day. Tyler visited one day. Ethan won't talk to them. He just stares with bloodshot eyes while they say meaningless things to comfort him.

He hasn't said a word.

Amy brought him food. He's barely touched it. Food is no longer important to him. Nothing is.

Today Mark showed up again.

"Hey."

Silence is the only reply Mark will receive.

"Sleep well last night?"

Silence.

"Well. . . uh. . . We've been thinking about taking you out somewhere nice."

Ethan only stares while taking small bites of a piece of bread.

"I bet you've missed Chica. I think you should come with us when we take her to the dog park. You love dogs."

Ethan doesn't reply.

"Think about it. I know you haven't been out in a long time, but. . . If you wanna come you can meet us at the office at 10 tomorrow."

Silence.

"Right. I'll see you later then. Goodbye."

Mark leaves Ethan to himself. Ethan stays where he is until he finishes his bread. Then he takes a shower and goes to bed. Just like any other day.

He wakes up just the same as usual.

Wake up. Eat. Go back to bed.

This day it's not the usual though. He has a thought. An unusual thought.

I should go to the office.

He stops. Blinks. Then continues to walk to the kitchen in his pajamas. Why would he go to the office? That's not where he belongs. He belongs in his home, by himself, alone forever.

Instead of getting a bowl of cereal like every morning, he stares at the clock on the microwave.

9:36

He watched intently as the middle dots blinked with the seconds that passed.

9:37

His stomach growled in waiting for food.

9:38

Another thought enters his mind. Another unusual thought.

I can still make it to the office in time.

9:39

He slowly walks away, back to his bedroom where he finds some old clothes that he hasn't worn in months.

Red skinny jeans, a deadpool shirt, an overwatch hoodie, converse shoes.

He stares at his reflection. He hasn't looked in a mirror in a long time. His hair has become a mess of faded blue. His face spotted with red. His eyes are red and empty.

Gross.

The only thought he thinks before he finds himself going out the door.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

~Kat