just write it all out

12

The Sound of Glass Beneath Your Feet - 01/12/16

My vision blurred in and out of focus as I struggled to wake myself up. I knew parts of my body were screaming at me, but that didn't stop me from trying to stand. I steadied myself on the ground, squatting at first, until I could straighten up and open my eyes.

And when I opened them, they burned. Burned from the air heavy with dust, from the smoke coming from the fire in front of me. Burned with anger at those who caused this, this..... this.

I heard sirens in the distance, and sat back down, letting my head rest as I waited for the sirens to arrive and vomit police officers and firemen and medical personnel to let them swarm all over the blazing picnic set out for them. And so they did, with their shiny badges and hoses and shock blankets. Look, I'm in shock, I've got a blanket.

The fire was put out, the firemen left. The police officers proceeded to tromp into my house, though I knew exactly why it had been destroyed. As soon as I assured the nurses I was fine, I was just bruised and sore, I followed the police through the trembling doorway, the sound of glass crunching beneath my feet a reminder of how irreparable my home was.

There go my only family photos, my only computer, my food supply, I thought as I walked through every soot-blackened room. There goes my life as I know it. Goodbye freedom, hello government welfare. Goodbye secrecy, hello society.

The bedroom and the rooms surrounding it were too damaged, collapsed in some areas, so they told me not to go back there. We would look for any surviving objects later, but for now, I would go back to the hospital and spend the night there. Lovely. More stark, threateningly pure environments.

I was able to access someone's phone, and dialed the number of the only woman who knew I existed. My only friend. "I need you to do me a favor, K. It's a big one. I need a place to stay-"

"That's not a favor at all. You're welcome here anytime."

"No, no, that's not the favor. I'm going to need your help tracking someone down."

"Ah, I see. Well, let me know when you're coming. I'll get everything ready for you."

"Thank you, K. Thank you so much."

"No problem, M. See you soon."

I hung up, gave the phone back, lay down in hopes of getting some rest, but the outline of his face had burned itself into my retinas, and even closing my eyes didn't help.

I needed to find him. And I needed to make him feel my pain.

WHAT WAS THIS, SOMEBODY TELL ME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

Ugh this was weird.

And the drawing is based off of this, too. I just don't know how to draw silhouettes. Or fires. Or houses on fire.