Chapter Text
Steve woke up. He wasn't sure if he was still tired or had slept too much, but he had a slight headache. Steve went down the stairs to the kitchen. His house was as empty as it was yesterday, and he could even feel a slight chill. He opened the refrigerator and looked inside, but there was nothing decent to eat. Steve looked out the window. The sun was still high in the sky. He decided to think about what to do next. He fumbled to find his coat and put it on, then put his keys in his pocket. He stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air. The headache hadn't gone away yet, but he thought it was bearable. He started the car and thought about where to go. After a moment of deliberation, he decided on a destination and drove off.
He arrived at the quarry. There was no particular reason for coming. It would be more accurate to say that he had come unconsciously simply because he had nothing to do and nowhere else to go. The quarry was cool, with a breeze blowing. Looking out at the wide-open landscape below the cliff, he felt his heart lighten considerably. Steve sat at the edge of the cliff and gazed at the vast open space. He didn't know exactly how long he had been there, but looking at the sky, he knew quite a long time had passed. The sun was slowly setting, and the sky was being covered in orange. He stood up at the edge of the cliff. He took a deep breath, turned around, and headed toward the car. He thought about his next destination.
Steve went to a small restaurant next. It was a place with a decent number of people and a pleasant atmosphere. Steve ordered a simple meal and waited. This wasn't the first time he had eaten alone here. He would occasionally come out alone like this to wander around and eat. He had seen the waiters' faces enough to exchange brief greetings with them. After finishing his meal, Steve said goodbye to the staff and returned to his car. It was chilly outside. It was time to go back.
He returned home. The house was exactly as it had been when he left and was still empty. Steve's headache still hadn't subsided.