The clothes overflow from the hamper, dirty. The dishes sit on the counter, bits of old food stuck to their unwashed surfaces. Dust bunnies cluster under furniture, forming soft, sneeze-inducin
g communities as their population grows. The grass is uncut, long blades rippling in the breeze, and weeds have taken over the flowerbeds. Cobwebs cling to exterior fixtures and decorate ceiling corners inside the house with lacy arabesques. The dining room table is strewn with mail and periodicals and unpaid bills. Does Miranda care? She snuggles under her quilt on the comfy couch, nose buried in a book. Nothing else exists.
