Whatever happened there had clearly taken hours.
I could not move.
My mind refused to understand what I was seeing.
Then the shock gave way to anger.
"Mark!"
I stormed next door, ready to demand an explanation.
I pounded on his front door.
Nobody answered.
I knocked again, harder.
"Mark, open the door!"
Silence.
His car was gone. The blinds were open, but the house looked empty.
There were no lamps, no pictures, and no furniture visible through the front windows.
A little later, another neighbor saw me pacing outside and came over.
Her name was Janice.
She lived across the street and seemed to notice everything that happened on our block.
"Are you looking for Mark?" she asked.
"Yes!" I said. "He had a birthday party in my backyard this weekend. Do you know where he is?"
She looked confused.
"Party? There wasn't any party."
I just stared at her.
