I wake up in an empty apartment. Girlfriend, gone. Cat, gone. Complete silence. I walk out the front door. No one walking. No joggers. No cars driving by. I knock on my neighbor’s door. No answer.

I go back inside and hit the power button on the TV. Nothing happens. I pick up my cellphone. Battery dead.

I sit on the floor and close my eyes. I remember we bought a hand-crank radio after we moved in. I find it.

I crank for three minutes. I turn the volume button to the right. I hear a click. Then, the sound of static.

I turn the tuning button to the left. More static. I turn the tuning button to the right. More static. I do it again, but this time, slowly. Static.

I’m ready to give up. Once more, I turn to the left. Even slower this time. I hear static. Then a crackle. Then a man’s voice.

“This is … (static) … with a CBS Sports Minute.”

I shut off the radio. I begin to weep.

— Brian Cougar