As always, I woke up to my alarm clock screeching it's head off. Groaning, I rolled over and swatted at where my foggy morning brain decided the nightstand was, but the obnoxious sound continued. I sighed and climbed out of bed, stepping into my slippers and gliding into the kitchen all on one motion. I absentmindedly reached for the top shelf of the cabinets and realized that I couldn't reach the oatmeal perched on top. I glanced down at my watch and shrugged. Whatever. I wasn't hungry anyways.

   I walked over to the front door and grabbed my jacket. As I slid it on, I turned to observe my apartment. My yorkie, Chrysanthemum, hadn't moved since I got out of bed. Sleepy pup.

   "I'll be back in an hour or so, Chrissy. Hold down the fort until then." I quietly shut the door behind me so as not to wake her and started down the hallway, popping in my AirPods. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my playlists as I made my way down the stairs and out the front doors of my apartment building. I settled on a live reading of Harry Potter and began my morning walk.

   My podcast filling my ears, I turned and headed along the sidewalk. I passed several men and women, looking miserable. With the Christmas season and New Years all over, things were a bit gloomy on the snowy streets of the Big Apple. Dozens of people hustled by, their heads low and shoulders slumped. It wasn't snowing now, but the ground was covered in a layer about two feet deep.

   Despite this, I felt fine. Even my thin, worn-out boots held up pretty well against the slush. I paused as I reached the gates to the park. They stood wide open, as usual. They were hardly ever shut during the day. I slipped passed the black bars, still gazing down at my phone as I scrolled though my social media feed.

   All of a sudden, something entered my line of vision. I barely had time to duck as a frisbee went flying over my head. I glanced around and saw five children, probably late elementary, rushing towards me. I stepped aside and scowled at them as they ran past, all leaping at the frisbee. I rolled my eyes and smiled. Was I ever that care-free?

   Before I had time to dwell on that question, I continued my walk. The snow was less overturned here, so deep in the park. That's when I began to realize something. I nearly dropped my phone, and brows furrowed in confusion. I turned, looking back at the way I had come.

   There were no tracks in the snow. I mean, of course there were footprints, but not my footprints. My trail was nowhere to be seen.

   What the— I stepped backward and felt my feet slip out from under me. I crashed into a snow bank and felt nothing. Not the cold of the snow on my skin, or the dampness of it in my jacket or pants. Not the feeling of the snow crumbling under my weight. Nothing.

   I gasped and jumped up. I was trembling all over at this point. What is going on!? Am I dreaming? I pinched my arm, but felt nothing. Nothing at all. Wait a second...

   "Do you need some help?"

   I inhaled sharply. Tears immediately welled up in my eyes and spilled over before I could stop them. "No..." I whispered before turning around.

   Then, I gulped and turned slowly. "H-Henry?"

   There stood a lean blonde boy in his early twenties. On his handsome face was plastered a sad smile. No, no, no...

   Henry's eyes twinkled with joy, but also grief. "I'm afraid so." He held out his hand to me. I could see right through it. He titled his head slightly and gave me another sad smile. "I'm sorry. I've come to take you home."

   "H-home?" I was completely sobbing at this point. "This is my home, Henry! What about Chrysanthemum? What about my job? What about everything? You can't be here. You're... y-you're—"

   "Dead. And I'm sorry, but so are you."