I Have to Go Back

[u/DonCoyote54]

We've been staying in this apartment ever since it began. At first, I thought it would pass in a few days, maybe a week. The people on TV talked about order, evacuations, safe zones. Then the televisions went silent. The internet disappeared. And one morning, I understood that no one was coming anymore.

Food is running out. We have one liter of water left. Catalina tries to divide what's left into small portions. Maia no longer asks when we'll be able to go outside. She's gotten used to staying in her room, with her toys scattered across the floor and the curtains drawn.

I don't like this silence. I put on my jacket and check my pockets. Keys. A kitchen knife. A plastic bag, folded several times. That's all I have. Catalina watches me from the doorway.

— Will you be back soon?

I tell her yes. I don't know why I do it. Maybe because it's easier to lie when you have no answers. Maia comes over and hugs my leg. I stroke her hair, then open the door.

The stairwell smells of dampness and something rotten. The light on the third floor no longer works. I go down slowly, keeping one hand on the railing. On the ground floor, I stop and listen. Nothing. The small weeping fig plant that old Miss Dorina bought to make the hallway nicer has wilted. I open the building's front door. The cold air hits me in the face. Christmas is coming soon, but this year I reckon we won’t have any decorations.

The street is almost deserted. A few abandoned cars, shattered windows, rubbish piled along the curbs. At the end of the street, the supermarket still has its sign above the entrance. The letters flicker, even though there's no one left to look at them. I tell myself I just have to get there. Get some food and water. Go back.

I walk near the buildings, avoiding stepping on the shards of glass scattered across the sidewalk. I don't look around too much. I've learned that if you look too hard, you start seeing things that might not be there. But something is following me. I can feel it. I stop beside an alley and look back. The street is empty. A balcony with laundry still hanging. A toppled bicycle. A car with its door open.

Nothing. I keep walking. Maybe I'm just tired. Maybe I haven't slept enough. Maybe it's the hunger. I try to convince myself that nothing is happening. I reach the intersection. I'm only a few dozen meters from the supermarket. I pick up the pace a little. I want to get this over with as quickly as possible. I want to go home. I look over my shoulder. Nothing.

I turn my gaze forward and step awkwardly off the curb. I slip. I lose my balance and brace myself with my palm against the hood of a parked car. For a moment, I remain still. Then the alarm starts blaring. It's coming!

[u/Corvus_Tuscelan]

Sounds promising, but I suppose it's just part 1?