Cohen awoke to the sensation of being burned alive. The ground underneath him, which was actually sand, burned him from below. The sun beat down on his back, scorching him. He didn’t understand why he was in the desert. He didn’t understand why he was asleep. But he got up. He started walking. There was the outline of what looked like a house in the distance. Cohen set his sights to it and walked. Drug his feet through the sand.

He wondered vaguely to himself whether he fucked up so badly that someone took him out here and dumped him, hoping he would die. Where was this? Nevada? The Sahara? He could be anywhere for all he knew or remembered. He drew closer to the house.

It was a small house. Wooden siding with peeling paint. The window frames were rotting, along with the porch. There was a rocking chair. It was swinging back and forth. There was no wind. He rested one hand on the porch railing. He was afraid to put his foot on it in case he stepped right through. But, he did. And he didn’t step through. He took the other two steps. The old wooden porch groaned in protest at his mere 140 pounds. The door wasn’t closed. But he knocked, out of courtesy. He waited.

A little old woman came to the door in a housecoat. Her hair was silver and thinning. Her mouth was absent of all but 3 or so teeth. When she spoke her voice reminded Cohen of melting butter.

“Can I help you?” was all she said to him. There was something in her eyes. Maybe fear, or pity.

“I think I’m lost.” Cohen said, his voice was a dry as the desert.

“Come on in.” she replied, “ I’ll get you a drink and a snack and you can use the phone.”

She turned and walked inside her house. He reluctantly followed her inside. The house was old and outdated. The furniture reminded him of the furniture in his great grandparent’s house when he was a kid. Flowered, smelly couches and glass cupboards filled with plates and knick knacks. He instantly felt uncomfortable. He followed her into the kitchen, there was a bowl of rotting fruit on her table. The little flies flitted around it and entranced him. She motioned for him to sit. He did. She put a glass of water in front of him. He thanked her. She turned around.