[ WP ] You wake up thinking it 's just another average day , but shortly after you and your SO leave the house you realize you two are the only remaining humans .

Dev's thick eyebrows knitted together as he glanced down at his watch. `` Think we have time to make it to Starbucks?'' 
 
 Molly barked, once. She had the big guns out, all sparkling chocolate eyes and furious, frenetic tail. 
 
 I crouched down and pressed my lips against the golden crown of her head. `` I know, baby. I do n't want to leave either. *Fuck* work.'' I scratched her under the ears. Her returning stare was plaintive. 
 
 I rose to my feet. `` Do n't look at me that way.'' I glanced down at my phone. It was 8:30AM - no new emails. My inbox had been unusually slow today, despite the fact I was booked in back-to-back meetings. There was something to be said about the small miracles of the 9-to-5. 
 
 I turned to Dev and smiled. `` There's a triple-shot vanilla soy latte calling my name, babe. Plus -- Friday.'' 
 
 Dev nodded solemnly. `` Friday. We're still getting happy hour tonight with Chris and Irene?'' 
 
 `` Yep!'' I said cheerfully. I'd already planned out my outfit: dark-wash Levi's and a draping silk blouse from J. Crew, one of my more thrilling Goodwill finds. `` I'll text them when I'm at work and confirm the details.'' I turned my face towards Dev's. He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. I pressed into his mouth. 
 
 His smile blossomed against mine. `` Let's go,'' he murmured. 
 
 ** 
 
 `` Traffic is...'' 
 
 `` Um. I know. Is it a holiday?'' 
 
 ** 
 
 `` Should we check the news?'' 
 
 ** 
 
 `` Dev. Dev -- where is. Where is everybody?'' 
 
 `` Shit, okay. I think -- I do n't know. What the FUCK is going on?'' 
 
 ** 
 
 `` Okay. Listen. If we're facing the potential extinction of the human race, I think we deserve some coffee.'' 
 
 ** 
 
 We sat across each other from Starbucks. Molly snuffed underneath the tables, unbearably delighted at her newfound freedom. Dev paced back and forth, dialing and dialing and dialing. His mom, his sister, his older brother, his uncle on the East Coast -- no answer. My mom, my dad, my sister -- no answer. Chris, Irene, Eric, Alina, Joanne -- no answer. Dev's giant pervert of a boss -- no answer. My boss, prim, pursed lips and a judgmental set to her eyebrows -- no answer. 
 
 His coworkers. My coworkers. Contacts long-ago stashed, forgotten until now: drunken hookups, half-hearted attempts at networking, and everything in between. 
 
 No answer. 
 
 I took a lemon cake from the display. Thieving did n't seem like such a risk, all things considered. 
 
 ** 
 
 Day 13. 
 
 We sprawled out on the floor of our studio loft. I lifted my glass of wine to the window; early afternoon sunlight spilled through the red. It was a Cabernet, luxurious and beautiful and filched from a nearby steakhouse, the most expensive wine on their menu. 
 
 `` Aliens.'' 
 
 I shook my head. I'm already drunk. It's barely noon. `` But why *us*?'' 
 
 Dev grinned at me, loopy and buzzed. `` Because we're fucking awesome.'' 
 
 `` We *are* fucking awesome,'' I declared, slamming my glass down. Wine sloshed over on to the hardwood floor. Molly trotted over to inspect; I pushed her away. 
 
 Dev's eyes burned with feverish light. `` This -- this is our mission. Some kind of test.'' 
 
 `` Our mission!'' I crowed, before downing the rest of my drink. 
 
 ** 
 
 Day 52. 
 
 `` I do n't know -- it just does n't have the same thrill.'' 
 
 `` Ugh. Killjoy.'' I slouched against the edge of the giant mint-green teacup. I did n't bother putting my bra back on, although Dev tucked himself back in neatly. 
 
 `` Disneyland just is n't the same without turkey legs,'' Dev said sadly. 
 
 ** 
 
 Day 366. 
 
 `` A year.'' 
 
 `` 365 days.'' 
 
 `` 366 days, actually.'' 
 
 ``... For fuck's sake, can you not.'' 
 
 ** 
 
 Day 458. 
 
 `` Stranger Things? AGAIN?'' 
 
 ** 
 
 Day 500. 
 
 `` Dev. Dev. Dev -- I think there's something wrong with Molly. Please. Oh my God.'' 
 
 ** 
 
 Day 672. 
 
 Something was different. 
 
 ** 
 
 A day. A night. Morning, once more. 
 
 The sun burned bright. I pressed my fingers against the swell of my belly. Dev buried his face into the crook of my neck. 
 
 Tomorrow, tomorrow. The promise lingered. 
 
 ** 
 
 

