Notice of Absence

I did not leave home today.

It was a day off, and the weather was unclear. It was not sunny enough to do laundry, and it was not raining enough to go out.

I left the breakfast plate in the sink and spent the day aimlessly in the room.

I opened a book, read the same line several times, and closed it.

I looked at my smartphone and turned it face down without knowing what I had been looking at.

After noon, only the brightness of the room changed slowly.

I boiled water, but did not take out a cup.

I tried to open the window, touched the lock, and stopped there.

In the evening, when I opened the mailbox by the door, there was a missed delivery notice inside.

We took your package back because you were absent.

I looked at the delivery time field.

Nothing had been written there.

I had been in the room all day.

I could not remember the sound of the intercom.

Come to think of it, I could hardly remember any other sounds from the day either.

I looked at the notice for a while, then requested redelivery.

The earliest time I could choose was at night.

I set the notice on the table.

The intercom rang.

I stood up.

I could hear my own footsteps as I walked to the door.

When I opened it, the delivery person checked the slip and held out the package.

I took the package.

“Thank you.”

When I said that, the delivery person gave a small nod.

I returned to the room and set the package on the table.

The missed delivery notice was no longer visible.