It's good to start a new day with a fresh attitude, forgetting all about what happened earlier as if it never did. Atleast that's what everyone tries to do anyway, Ralph did that too. In his heart he mocked it, but in front of others, he kept a positive attitude. That's the solution he arrived at after being "counseled".

Listening to that ramble for 45 minutes, acting like it all made sense, intolerable as it was, couldn't beat the nonchalant attitude of his friend Sherman, who told the rest of the school about it as well.

"Shouldn't have expected others to 'just listen' I guess", he rambled to himself as he waited to be called to the counselor's office.

"Now they have another reason to avoid me, just great !", Ralph said out loud, for which he got a weird look from the blonde nurse. He covered his face in tiredness.

He used to believe that if he was just given some more time, more time to fix things, he'd get his life back on track, put on a facade, and fit into society again.

That was the plan until his parents decided he needed professional help. 'Maybe I do, but doesn't mean they can order me to get better'.With that thought in mind, he sat there playing with his hands to calm himself.

It was cold there in the waiting room. it had been raining when he had arrived at the clinic. That's why he didn't realize as he grew too comfortable on the sofa that, must've dozed off because when he opened his eyes next, there was nobody in the lobby.

'Did they forget about me and leave all by themselves.' As much as he wanted to regret that nap, he didn't find the time for it as he sped toward the doctor's office. Sadly, he found no one there. He did find some personal belongings around the cabin, which made him frown.

' Is this a fucking prank? Why would everyone just leave their stuff in here? Would a doctor even play a joke like this?' Everything looked untouched, as though everyone had left in too much of a hurry.

He made his way to the entrance and found it open. "Atleast they didn't lock me in".Ralph walked out and took out his phone from his bag. Yes, he carried a bag everywhere, such was the life of a student.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"There's no traffic today, huh? Must be some roadblock due to damage nearby".

Times like these reminded him of the sad fact that he lived in a small town, the authorities were in no hurry to fix anything.

'But why isn't there anyone in sight, it isn't even a holiday or a heat wave, not like those would keep people in.' He thought about the strange atmosphere for a while before forgetting about it as the music played on his headphones.

He walked back home in every quietness, which he didn't realize due to the music, not even crickets or birds chirping, no sound of TV from homes. He reached back home and found out that his dad's car was still outside.

'Wasn't he supposed to attend a meeting today, did everyone decide to take a break today without my knowledge?' He thought as he walked in and laid back on the couch.

"Mom, wasn't Dad supposed to be out for the day today?", No reply came back so he decided to check around the house and found no one. Concerned about his mom and dad, he decided to call them to check in on them. As his fingers moved towards the call icon, he glanced at the time and stopped. He gave it a confused look and thought, 'Wasn't it 3 when I left the hospital, do I have to get the phone repaired as well after I just walked home? I'll see to it later. Let's call Mom first, Dad just might be in the meeting.'

He called his mom but the call didn't connect, he heard the phone ring and tracked it down to the table. He decided to see if his mom was at the neighboring house, gossiping with Mrs. Andrews. He rang the bell at the neighbor's house but no one responded for a minute and he switched to knocking, but no reply came this time as well, he turned the knob and unexpectedly it opened, he announced his presence and walked in, just to find that there was no one inside.

He was freaked out now and sprinted to a few other houses, but no other doors were unlocked and no one replied to his anxious knocks. He called the police but even the automated responder didn't connect him to any operator. He broke down and started bawled his eyes out in the middle of the street, no one was there to judge him for it though. After some time of staying there and having a breakdown, he stood up and walked around the small town confirming his fears that there was no one except himself in the entire town. Tired and hungry at this point, he instinctually walked back to his home only to realize that he didn't know how to cook and he couldn't rely on his mother aswell. In the desolate house there was no one to accompany him. He took out his phone, to talk to someone....anyone, even Sherman whom he didn't even want to be friends with anymore but alas, no one answered.

Now hungry, alone, and cold he sat in his driveway and stared at the watch on his hand. it felt like the second hand had decided not to move anymore. Time itself had abandoned him and in a way, it fulfilled his wish of wanting some alone time.