Morning Edition

At six-forty-three, coffee was ready. The machine was new; BLACK & DECKER embossed across the black facade. The machine beeped.

In the next room, the bedside radio clicked to life as the clock struck quarter-to-seven. The dial was set to the local NPR affiliate, but only static erupted from the speakers, punctuated here and there with bits from a pre-recorded message.

No cause for alarm...
Overnight...
Quarantine...
Just a precaution...
Curfew...
Lock windows...doors...
Shelter in place...
State and local officials...
Food and water...
Vaccine...
No cause for alarm...

The only light in the room came from the radio dial, the clock on the coffee maker, the flourescent light in the fish tank, and a single window.

The coffee remained undisturbed in the carafe, and started to burn.

The fish were floating.

Curtains blew inward with the morning breeze.