With a deep sigh, I turn away from the house that, all of a sudden, no longer belongs to me or my parents, and step out onto the cobblestone street. My footsteps echo in the quiet evening air as I make my way out of the subdivision's gates, my mind continues to swirl with questions after questions. Pulling my phone from my cardigan's pocket, I hope to find solace in the familiar voices of my loved ones. But as I unlock the screen with my fingerprint, my heart sinks like a stone. The contact list is empty, devoid of the names and numbers that have once filled it. A sense of panic washes over me as I scroll through the barren wasteland of my phone, searching desperately for even a single familiar name. My parents, my friends, my classmates—all gone without a trace. No?! Please, please, please!With trembling fingers, I tap on the icons for Facebook and Instagram, eager to lose myself in the familiar feeds of friends and acquaintances. But as the apps load, my heart sinks once again.
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