What Do You Mean, Gone?

My forehead scrunches itself into a million furrows, conveying the sudden avalanche of confusion that’s forced its way into my brain.

“Come again?” is all I can manage, certain I just heard Darius wrong.

“The Atlantic Ocean’s not there anymore,” he says. “It’s gone, Matt!”

“What the fuck do you mean it’s gone?” I frown, gripping the phone harder.

“I don’t know what to tell you, man,” Darius exclaims. “It’s just… gone. Like, kapoof! Vanished into thin air in the last forty seconds. All of it. Not a single drop of water left!”

His elaboration doesn’t help.

Not one bit.