These fields are empty. Brush on top of snow. Salted roads. Gray skies. It is the Midwest.

A deer carcass lay atop Highway 30. Off to the side of the road, his head faces east. Towards the bare trees. He almost made it.

There’s various plates amongst the cars and semis. Ohio, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Florida, all heading towards Chicago. Chicago, used to be a mecca for travelers. Now it’s just another Midwest town falling. And, it can’t get up.

Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, the whole region drifting towards nothing. No more surprises. Just gray skies above.

It is winter.