We all knew it was going to happen. It's a bit surreal hearing everyone talk about incoming doom all the time though, so I guess we just grew numb to it. I remember the news anchors talking every day about growing political tensions between Russia, China, and the United States, but it felt like they talked about it for so long that people just stopped caring or listening. Then again, I can't say anyone would have cared anyway. We all just walked around in our own little worlds without any real perspective of anything beyond our own needs, desires, and view of the world.
The social climate seemed to take a turn for a few years before the attacks. People started fearing each other over all of their perceived differences. Instead of building from a place of common ground, the negative approach won out and people were segregating themselves based on things like race, sexual orientation, and political ideologies. The streets were being constantly patrolled by militarized police and the national guard. We were just too busy fighting among ourselves to notice all of the things that were actually going on in the world. This was our downfall and the consequences were too great for anyone to fathom. When I think back on it, it was clear to see that we were headed down a destructive path of no return.
I started to withdraw from society at this point. It was clear that the average person wasn't taking me seriously or maybe they were just too trapped in their own minds that they couldn't see it. When they started trying to collect guns, every fiber of my being screamed that something bad was coming and while I wasn't sure what it would be, I knew I had to get ready. Studying history had taught me that disarming civilians is usually followed by massive human rights violations. I started researching and learning as much as I could about how to survive outside of the system and live off the grid. Would there be a mass culling to lower the population? Would one of these countries we invaded finally find the means to retaliate? I think in the end, it didn't really matter what was coming, I just didn't want any part of any of it. I never wanted to kill anyone or watch anyone die over greed and fear.
Riots broke out in the streets of many major cities across the world. The citizens of all of these great nations were upset over many things, but while they were busy bickering with each other, their governments were passing laws to take away more and more of their freedoms. The war machine kept rolling over less powerful nations, looting the world of it's precious natural resources while killing anyone that stood in their way. It was all done legally though, I assure you of that. The truth is that we let them pass so many corrupt laws that they could legally do anything they wanted in the end.
We couldn't see that we were just a resource like cattle being herded to accomplish goals and agendas of people with the means to hide behind corporations and governments. Some tried to warn us, but we just labeled them as crazy or conspiracy theorist. Worse yet, many of us were just too focused on our own greed and trying to get ahead of the broken system that we knew. I was one of those. It was clear to me that something bad was coming and I had prepared for the worst the best way I knew how. I can tell you that it wasn't due to any lack of compassion or desire to help others, but how can I show people something they don't want to see?
I quit trying to tell people what I saw happening and I started to prepare the only way I knew how. Guilt weighed on me for a while, but in the end I guess we're all a little selfish when it comes to survival. I built an underground shelter in the woods over the course of a few years and stocked it with supplies as best I could. I wasn't wealthy by any means, but canned goods were still manageable to afford back then and firearms were easy enough to get if you knew where to look. My little solitary hole in the ground was ready and full of ammo, food, and water. The only real problem I faced was knowing when to go underground and the guilt I felt at all of the people that I knew would be hurt when it happened.
Well, if you're reading this, then you probably already know all of this, or maybe you were born after the collapse. I often wonder why I'm writing these journals at all honestly. I haven't seen another living person in the last ten years at this point. Maybe humanity survives this and there are others out there like me that were ready. In the end, it doesn't seem like I'm going to be around to meet any of them though. This was my last piece of paper and I haven't felt well for a while. I'm pretty much out of food and every trip into what's left of the city makes me feel even sicker and I haven't found anything edible in months. Welcome to reality.
This is my entry for
@gmuxx's Art Prompt Writing Contest. Check out the contest and feel free to enter as well! Thanks Muxxy for such an awesome writing contest!