The Cost of Isolation

             I walked through the empty city, on my guard against any dangers, and hunting for any animals to eat. I heard a sound in an alley and reflexively pointed my gun at the sound. When I realized it was crying, I ran in, and saw a girl, not much older than me.

       “Get away!” she said when she saw me.

           “I’m sorry,” I responded, “why?”

     My body felt numb. I dropped my gun and looked at my hands. They were dissolving into smoke.

       “When I asked to be left alone,” she said, “I never meant this.”

     Then, I was gone.