Wednesday. April 1, 2022. 7:54 P.M.

I was only a child when it all began. My parents had already been killed by the virus. Wandering the streets of Singsu was cold, lonely, and barren. No one dared to walk the streets now, the military shoot anyone on site. Food is delivered to doorsteps by the National Guard, and families are given their rations of water. The virus... shut down the entire country: The food, water, power, grocery stores, corner stores, schools... all of it. My parents figured out they had the virus right away and did everything they could to try and get it treated, but since we were "lower-class" the hospitals would not give them the proper treatment. So they sent me to my grandma's house. I was only 6 then, so I couldn't wander on my own. My grandmother died when I was 13, after that I just went undercover and slipped into the night. I've been shot at countless times for being caught, but I like to think I'm pretty clever. Now that I'm eighteen, my hair has grown out to be as long as my face, my features are more defined: sharp jaw line, my shoulders squared out about two years ago, and based off of general knowledge I think I'm 5'8in. Compared to when I was a kid, everything has drastically changed. The military is now split up into defined roles, the sun NEVER shows itself because the government packed what was left of the earth full of factories and increased pollution to it's capacity. Eventually I grew the balls to go back to my parents house, just to see my home, maybe if it wasn't being occupied I could have a designated place to sleep. But the house was cleaned out, and all of our pets are now being taken care of by a new a family. Well, except for our cat Genji. She roams the streets with me and often times brings me food. Today was ration day, and slowly I'm noticing the population dwindle. I can only see the population of my town, but I can't imagine it's better anywhere else. The food is depleting rapidly, and I fear that the government may lose hold of the military here soon. My nightmares haven't gone away, in fact they've gotten worse. I looked in a mirror today, and noticed that I think I'm kind of handsome haha. I have dark, navy blue eyes that shimmered when the light hit them just right. My face isn't sunken in and my body is built and healthy because I have a "reserve" or "fort" a little ways past the entrance to the forest where I have a flourishing garden, and a bow, and a found tent. I have one outfit that I wear daily: a dark gray hoodie, navy blue jeans, and combat boots. I carry my dad's knife with me everywhere, and my bow stays at camp. At the very least, I'd say I'm living the dream in this hell of a society compared to those who choose to stay in homes. At least living out here in the woods I can stay close to my mom and dad in spirit. This ends my first journal entry. I miss you Mom and Dad.

Soran Sequoya