Chris drove his old pickup down the narrow forest road that led to the secluded cabin he'd inherited from his father. He was driving from a small town called Ridgeport-it was his hometown. The sun was setting, coloring the treetops a warm golden hue. The radio station was playing quietly in the car, but the music couldn't distract Chris from thinking about the upcoming roof repair. He had already noticed a few leaks after the rain, and now his mind was occupied with plans to replace the old slate.
Suddenly the phone rang, and Chris automatically hit the speaker button without looking at the screen.
– Yes, I'm listening," he said, trying to speak louder than the noise of the engine.
– Hi," he heard Mary's familiar voice.
– Hi, did you miss me already? – Chris asked with a smile.
– Yeah, I miss you already," she replied. – How are you doing?
– Turned off Highway 61," Chris answered, glancing at the pothole in the road. – I'll be there in a couple more hours.
– Come back again," Mary said with a smile, "save me from loneliness.
– What about the repairs? – The roof is leaking. We can't put it off, or we'll have to redo everything inside.
– I know, I know," Mary sighed. – I just wanted to hear your voice. You're not going to lose the connection up there, are you?
– The signal's almost gone," Chris said, looking at the screen of his phone. – I'm on a forest road, and there's almost no reception.
Soon I'll be riding in transfixed loneliness, Chris said.
– You're the master of solitude," Mary said with a slight sneer.
– What kind of innuendo? – Chris laughed. – Solitude is good for everyone. It is confirmed by great philosophers. It helps to energize and relieve excess weight from the soul. Anyway, I'm going on business.
– Just don't overcharge," Mary said jokingly. – Did you bring your tools? You didn't forget anything?
– Yeah, everything on the list," Chris replied, patting the backpack on the seat.
– Is there enough food for the weekend?
– Yeah, I also want to shoot some game, and there's some in the cellar. So I won't go hungry.
Chris looked again at the road, illuminated by the headlights of his car. Suddenly, something unusual caught his attention. He noticed a glow in the sky, colored in purple-red shades. The light was so bright that it blinded him for a moment.
