THE WALK

wSo, this happened about three years ago. I was downtown at my friend's apartment on Polk St. next to the Methodist Church. I ended up leaving there on foot at around midnight. I had to walk to 34th and Western. It was sprinkling off and on that night. It might have been a Tuesday. All in all, a very average night in the Rilla. The plan was to just walk Tyler to 34th, but for some reason, when I got to 26th, I went East and up past Llano.

Not a big fan of cemeteries, but not really scared of them. I don't like nursing homes either and it's about the same feeling I get for either place.

But when I started walking up 27th, I crossed over to the North side of the street. It wasn't long before I realized that it was all of a sudden very very quiet.

Now, I'm trying not to exaggerate this at all, but walking 27th up to Arthur was nearly silent. There are a few businesses on that street with dogs that will bark and growl at the fences, there is never a shortage of car traffic either. That night it was silent. I didn't see a car, hear a car or see a single dog.

I turned on Arthur and it was pitch black. Not dark, but void of light. It was so quiet I started talking to myself out loud. I also was walking in the center of the street and didn't realize it for a long time.

No sound. No cars. Nothing at all. Get to 34th and the airport is there. 34th is always bumping. I turned right on 34th and there was not a single headlight. By this time it couldn't have been later than 2, so no reason it would be empty streets.

I walked until the tip top of the bridge on 34th. Yes, I realize you aren't supposed to walk it, but you got me f'ed up if you think I'm going the long way.

The first car I saw was coming over the bridge at the same time I was. As soon as I began walking down the other side of that bridge, everything went back to normal. Traffic, sounds, all like before.

Never experienced anything like that. Ever. It was certainly not normal by any stretch.

• J Taylor Roach