Look Outside

Harry woke to what he thought was just another day. One card in a shuffled deck. He made a ten cup pot of Folgers and while waiting for the brew picked up the paper from the table where his wife had left it before leaving for work. there was a note taped to the front page in Lara’s handwriting. It read: Look outside, love Lara .

Harry smiled thinking it would be one of Lara’s crazy, but fun, pranks. When he opened the door he was immediately sick. Lara was sitting on our porch swing covered with crows pecking and pulling free her mouldering flesh. Harry dropped to his knees and was violently sick. Standing weak kneed he stumbled to the swing and beat at the crows. They flew off cawing and protesting his intrusion. The smell coming from Lara was horrific. It was as if she had been dead for days not minutes or hours. Her eyes were gone and yet it seemed she was staring at her husband, in reproach or pleading.

Before going in for his phone Harry looked past his dead wife and across the street. Everywhere were the bodies of neighbors, friends. A woman who had been walking her dog was down as well as the dog. Both were skeletal. Joe Maxwell, long time neighbor and chess partner was sitting in his Volvo which was running. Maxwell was swollen, bluish and missing large amounts of skin.

Running into the house Harry picked up his phone and punched in 911. These was a long series of rings. There was no answer. Harry slowly lowered the phone onto its cradle and went back to the kitchen - stunned.

***

After work Lara stopped for a few groceries and headed home. She was anxious to tell Harry a joke Becky had told her at lunch. Raunchy but funny.

Entering the house and walking to the kitchen Lara saw a note scrawled on a small paper bag. Picking it up Lara read it and smiled. Harry. Another joke. As Lara walked away from the table the note fluttered to the floor.

Lara, Look outside, love Harry.