MicroHorror

“I just don’t know what you want me to do,” Keith said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

A warm breeze was coming in through the kitchen window. It was going to be hot. A fly was walking along the edge of the sugar bowl and he swished his hand casually over the rim, causing it to move off.

“I said I was sorry. I wish I could change things but I can’t.”

He glanced back over his shoulder before scooping a spoonful of sugar into his cup. Maggie was sitting at the table, back to him, her shoulders hunched forward. She had been like this for days. First the anger, then the crying and now the unending silence. He knew she blamed him for them being trapped out here.

“I never thought things would get this far out of hand,” he continued. “I was sure things would be all right. I mean who would have thought that things would have got this crazy?”

The refrigerator hummed along but there was no other reply.

“Come on, Maggie,” he said. “You can’t stay mad at me forever. Things will get better. There haven’t even been any news reports for days. That must be a good sign. The authorities are probably already getting things under control. Maybe later today we can take a drive to Webber and see for ourselves.”

Keith walked by the table and gave a short smile as he headed to the seat across from Maggie.

The side of her face was covered by long strands of auburn-colored hair, hanging down as she seemed to focus on a spot on the table top just in front of her.

“You know you are the most important thing in the world to me,” Keith said as he pulled the chair out from the table and sat down. Three flies lifted off the table top as it shifted with his movement. “Whatever happens, I’ll always be doing my best for you.”

Keith took a sip of coffee and looked at Maggie. Her mouth was open as if to speak.

He smiled, waiting.

A fly crawled across her milky white, unblinking eye.

The refrigerator hummed its unbroken diatribe.

Keith’s brow furrowed and then he took another slow sip of his coffee. Maybe tomorrow. She just needed a little more time. She couldn’t stay angry forever.