Tomorrow

Looking in the mirror, all I noticed was my flawed skin. Bumps and scars. Discolored. Pale. Gaunt - Unrecognizable. I re-covered the surface with the towel at once.

The house was cold. The sun was beginning to set, low behind the hills. Night creeping up; again.

One more night. I only need to survive one more night.

It had been 7 months since the grid went out. Give or take. I stopped counting. Half of the county died within the first 2 weeks, primarily due to violence. The radios went dark shortly after. I was alone on the hill, surviving off of sheer willpower and spite. Not another man for miles. Safe in the place I always called home.

I stalked to the porch, watching the sky change from red to grey. A ritual. Sitting on the edge of the deck was the last canister of gas I had. Liquid gold. My lifeline. Enough to take me into town and back. My stomach growled, but it would have to wait until tomorrow. I would need to make the most of it.

The hum of an engine revved up the dirt road. I froze in place, my heart beating fast.

Headlights made their way around the corner, creeping closer with each shaky breath until they finally came into view. Horrifically bright; blinding.

I grabbed the can, turned on my heels, and ran. But my speed would be my downfall, my starving heart giving out within twenty steps.

Tomorrow would never come.