day 75

(My
imagination
gets me in
trouble)

I.
The city was infected.
Next thing I know
we were all hiding.
Where is my mother?
The back of the house
led to a hallway with a back door
and a door to the attic
Inside of the door to the attic
There were two different doors
A hidden one
And a decoy

Many people broke into the house looking for our supplies
Everything we had was in the cellar

No one had found us yet

Our father figure had left us but told us that we would be relocating soon.I gathered up the strength and courage to gather food and supplies.

In the cellar,
I suddenly heard someone walking heavily.
Boots.
A big man with a shot gun comes walking down.
I hide.
And run.
He shoots at me.
I find another hidden door that leads to the attic and I gather everyone to relocate.
Our new spot was in a whole other town.

A quiet, humble town.
The house was one floored
and romantic.
It was stocked with food and supplies. This had to be a vacation home.

II.
The walls were made of glass.
My mistake was feeling too safe too soon.
I lay down on a couch and smell a freshly washed blanket.
Home. And I go into a daydream.
I miss my mother. And I wonder what she's doing. If she's still alive. If the sickness has reached her city. She's safely across the country but this virus has been spreading fast.

And then I hear a chuckle. A very manly laugh. Directed towards me. Like I'm a fool for feeling safe. And I open my eyes. He's staring right at me. So I run towards the others. But he follows. Through the snow. He raises his cold red palms at me. I wish I did not have to see what I can. This damned house of glass is directly related to the lives we all live. Impersonal... In the open. No lies and no truths.

The man opens our front door and threatens to hurt us if we don't help him. He takes all of our supplies, thanks us, and tells us he wouldn't be back.

He talks wearily. We forgive him for leading a life he doesn't want to live. We all just seek forgiveness in our aggression. I forgive you.
I forgive you.
I forgive you.

III.
We feel safe, but not as safe as we can be. There is a big store down the road that sells groceries and linens.
We keep men at home to protect the women and younger kids. I bring two strong men with me to the store. We need a lot of paint to paint over the glass and a lot of food.

As we check out, the same men come shooting up and robbing the store.
We want to leave immediately.
The store workers lead us to a secret elevator on the opposite side of the store. We hurry on. There are two other store workers and a pregnant woman. As the elevator door closes, one of the robbers walk by and try to get on. After fighting and screaming he manages to get on. Silent at first.

I am so scared. He proudly holds his shotgun. Whistles and stares at us.
He then proceeds to point his gun at us. I stand near the pregnant woman and she keeps blocking me. It's clear that he wants to hurt me. He keeps pointing his gun at me. And I shake from fear. I begin to cry.
Loudly.
The woman tells him to leave me alone. I stare at him.
He says if he shoots her, the bullet could still pierce my skin.
He aims for my head.
And everything just slows down.

I think of the ones we left at the glass house.
Hoping they aren't too worried. We have been gone for too long now.
I think of my mother I left at home miles and miles away. She's safe, I know it. It makes me stronger.

I tell the man to shoot me. I see the fear in his eyes. He has never shot anyone. He cries.
The elevator door opens. We all run out. I am near the parking lot. The 2 men I came with hurried ahead and brought the supplies to our car. I asked a security guard to walk me.

As I reach the car, I thank him. He waits for me to start the car.

It doesn't start.
Two thugs come by, open my door,
and slip a knife against the skin of my left foot. It hurts.
They ask me challenging. Does it hurt? Giggles.
I am furious.
I look at the security guard to get into the car. He does.
I close the door and my window. Lock it. Sit it the car with my friends.
We play music.
The group of robbers get into a fight with the thugs.
The first man who robbed our glass house ends up shooting everyone. Even his own men.
He cries.
"I wish I could forgive myself."
And shoots himself.

The sun comes up.
The car starts.
We make it to the glass house in one piece. Everyone is safe.
I forgive the trouble and the thugs and the fear and the cold.

I forgive you.