I sat alone inside of a dark, empty bar, helping myself to the priciest wines they had. I was never much of a drinker, but I knew not what else to turn to. I wept for the loss of my wife and my infant son, both having disappeared into some unknown abyssal oblivion. To cope with such an occurrence would be as infeasible as to comprehend what happened.

I lifted the ornate, crystal glass to my slightly-parted lips, and tilted the glass. The dark red substance slid into my mouth, a dry, bit. . .