April 5th 2022

  2pm?

  The blood storm is gone!

  My friend suggested that name. I think it’s pretty accurate, considering the storm makes the world look like it was dunked in red Kool-Aid.

  But no, it’s safe to go outside now. The sky isn’t trying to chemically exfoliate me, for now.

  There’s no telling when it’ll come back, so I figured I’d head out even further than usual. Stretch the legs. Get some air that doesn’t smell like the inside of an exhaust pipe.

  Though, it didn’t take long until I heard gunshots. I guess other people had the same idea as me!

  Normally, I’d turn around and investigate the sound, but these shots sounded sloppy and panicked. Like someone mashing buttons instead of aiming.

  People have been doing a fantastic job tely at proving how much they suck at living. Real loud about it too.

  I spotted a guy and his girlfriend or something near one of the abandoned sedans down the street, shooting their shots and failing miserably.

  I don’t bme them, though. The mumblies were grouping up pretty fast and coming in from every way you looked. They’re not track stars or anything, but in numbers they’re harder to avoid.

  The couple kept backing up, tripping over each other, making noise. Same shit, different day.

  I leaned against the trunk of a car and watched. I thought about helping them for half a second, I really did. Until the guy dropped his magazine and his girlfriend screamed his name.

  They were fucked, nothing I can do about that. Helping would’ve just made more noise. And it never really works out when people notice me anyway.

  The mumblies took care of the rest and the couple quickly disappeared, dragged down into a messy pile of limbs and gnashing teeth. It got quiet once the screams were over.

  I stayed where I was. A few of the mumblies looked up and slowly craned their necks toward me. One of them even stopped chewing for a second.

  I was like, you guys just do you, don’t mind me.

  They went back to eating. I guess I’m just not as interesting.

  Well, I decided I’d seen enough. It was clear these guys were starving since nobody was out and about during the blood storm. Valid.

  On my way back, a few of the mumblies ended up following in the same direction as me.

  Happens sometimes.

  7:18pm

  I ended up cutting through a strip of little stores a few blocks over from the Walmart. Most of them were trashed, obviously, but one pce was still standing somehow. Big front windows, pastel signs, lots of adorable, smiling, cartoon bunnies.

  Some kind of arts ’n crafts store, or a party store. Or both? Inside was a MESS, but in the best kind of way.

  It’s April now, so I found the exact aisle I wanted. One with streamers everywhere, pstic eggs and you betcha; more stickers!

  God I love pastels. You know I grabbed all those cheap dolr store garnds that say HAPPY EASTER in aggressively cute bubble letters.

  Filled my backpack right up!

  Holidays don’t stop existing just because nobody’s around to celebrate them. It’s like saying colors stop working if you close your eyes.

  I found a pack of little chick decorations that you’re supposed to clip onto stuff. They’re ugly, but in a charming way. I like them. I even grabbed some little wind-up chickies and bunnies that hop around on tables until you need to wind them again.

  By the time I got home, my arms were full of pastel garbage.

  I was so excited to show my friend all the stuff I found, but he was nowhere to be seen. That wasn’t right.

  I called out to him but there was no response. He wasn’t where I left him.

  Next thing I know, I’m dropping everything at the door and doing a speed-run through the living room, kitchen, bathroom, even the closets. I checked the living room again, like we were re-enacting a scene from scooby-doo.

  I don’t like this.

  I dontlikethis

  Idon’tlikethis

  I dont like this.

  Later at night

  -

  I found him!

  He was almost at the top of the stairs. I don’t know how long he’d been there.

  He’s probably starving by now, poor thing. He needs reminders sometimes, and that’s okay.

  Gd I made it back in time to pull him back down before he could get any bad ideas. We’ve talked about this before.

  I sat him back in his spot by the fire, his pce, and fixed him so he was facing the fire again. Thankfully there was nothing wrong with him. He was still quiet.

  I made sure to tell him that it’s not safe upstairs and that it’s really messy. A disaster area, really.

  The mumblies have been loud again upstairs, and I’m not dealing with that today.

  After that, I picked up all my Easter stuff and other supplies, closing the door behind me,

  I hung up the decorations where I could put them or get them to stick.

  It felt great seeing everything pced nicely where they should be.

  Honestly, it’s a shame that some people just don’t understand house rules.

  But that’s alright, I’ll keep reminding them.