text: I woke slowly, i don’t know how long i really laid there, watching the dust fall through the cracks of light in the room. I hauled myself out of bed, fighting the strained and tired muscles, my stiff joints from sleeping on the uneven bed. I walked into the bathroom, and lifted my canteen, i took a few drops of the murky water and rubbed my face, with it. I shook the dust off the mirror and looked at my face, dirty unshaven, my tired eyes stared back at me beneath my unkempt hair. I turned my back on the bathroom and walked down the creaking stairs, into the living room, breaks of light between the boards shone through here too. Walking into the kitchen i looked at the water collector, it was empty, This was the third day without rain, and if it kept up this way, My third day without refilling my Canteen. I picked up the jacket I had taken off a soldier long ago, it was frayed along the bottoms, there were light rips, and the cords were splitting. The discolouration in the shoulders and elbows we’re apparent. I did up the buttons and tied the cords, the way i have a hundred times, I reached and grabbed my old shotgun, I had 10 rounds, i loaded 4 into it, and left the rest in the closet. i checked the handgun in the holster on my hip, i slung the shotgun and replaced the handgun, before picking up the wood and flint 3 pronged spear. The shoelaces taken off the dead we’re wrapped around its head holding the flint in place. I held it in front of me as i unlocked the steel framed door in front of me. I stepped onto the bright covered porch. As my eyes adjusted i looked around at the desolate street that used to be the Gale Crescent Cul-De-Sac, the dilapidated houses stared, empty back at me. The fractured and potholed road as familiar as an old friend. I locked the gate and stepped into the sunlight. As i walked past the cars which had long since been made useless i couldn’t help but feel indolent, the feeling of helplessness crept into the back of my mind like a fox tracking it prey. I tried to shake it off as i walked towards the Amigary Downs Park, which held the canopy of trees, where i had set-up my snares, and often tried to fish or spear hunt. I walked into the comforting embrace of the trees, and the cover from any curious onlookers. I walked through the trees humming to myself, checking my snares, after 3 or 4 i found a small rabbit, which i took out of the snare, and reset, a while further i found a squirrel. A pretty good quarry for the next few days. As i walked back through the forest i heard a few loud bangs, and dropped cover, unslinging my shotgun, and bringing it to bear. After 3 or 4 hours of waiting I walked cautiously back to the road, I saw a group of cars, one of which must have burned, blowing the tires. As i arrived at the cars, i noticed i was right, As i stared looking at the remnants of the burned cars, i saw one which had mostly been left alone, save a small area in the back seat. the once clean interior of it had a layer of ivory ash, in the passenger seat laid the remnants of an easier time, the flip flops, the old sunglasses, and a small teddy bear laid on the floor in front, its plaid sweater ever so slightly staring back at me beneath its ashy tomb. An equanimity washed over me for just a second, and just as soon as it came, it was gone, reminding me to go home.