After Life

What comes after?

My eyes open and all I see is the dark ocean waves as they crash onto the shore. I am aware that I am lying down and from the feel of the sand under my hands and cheek, on the dry sand. I sit up suddenly alarmed by my surroundings because last I remember I was on a boat with my family and I was no where near this beach. What beach was on any way? Was I still in Florida? So many questions rushed through my head as I started getting up from my sitting position on the sand.

I looked around the beach it was practically pinch black except for the far away street light and the low glow of the half moon there was no other light. I hugged myself shivering suddenly from the cold. Then I noticed I was extremely cold. This was odd because on the boat I was extremely hot because it was super humid. I started making my way off the beach and found some stairs that led me towards the street. As I looked around I noticed yes I was definitely in Florida still and in south Miami Florida to be exact.

"Where is everyone?" I mumbled to myself finding it odd how I still had not come across any one on my walk all the way from the beach to the street I now stood in front of. This piece of Miami always had people walking around at night. I walked down the sidewalk and suddenly felt warmth pass through me. This was a relief because I was severely cold. But just as suddenly as it came it seemed to drift away and my body was left feeling chilled again. I rubbed my arms again for the millionth time and kept walking down the side walk again searching for a friendly face.

Walking further down the avenue I noticed not much looked to be opened. This again was extremely odd. I had lived in Miami all my life and there were always lights on in the building I stood near now. The clubs would be booming with people, restaurants would be serving or cleaning up for the night and cars would be zooming about. For god sakes where are the homeless people, they started to camp out at some time in the night. What time was it anyway?

I started to feel a headache coming on suddenly and found myself feeling less calm. This was not the same place I grew up in, this city looked empty. Had something happened while I slept or was I dreaming?

"What the fuck is happening?" I said my voice coming out panicked now as my breathing grew erratic. I closed my eyes trying to calm my self and not cry in the side of the street like a little girl lost. All I could think about is how I had to get home some how.

When I opened my eyes again that is exactly where I was.