The Forgotten Camera

As I reflect on the events of that fateful day, I recall the weary weight of disappointment settling upon my shoulders as I trudged homeward, my mind still reeling from yet another fruitless job interview. In a moment of absentmindedness, I reached into my pocket for a lighter, only to discover a pack of cigarettes nestled within. With a resigned shrug, I extracted a cigarette and ignited it, the tendrils of smoke curling upwards as I muttered to myself about the day's misfortunes, my hand absently tousling my disheveled hair.

 "Seems like I'm not getting as far as I'd hoped," I murmured wryly, the corners of my lips lifting into a sardonic smile as I pushed open the door to my apartment. Restless and unsettled, I wandered through the rooms until my gaze landed upon the camera resting on my desk. An impulse seized me, and without a second thought, I seized the camera and made my way outside, ensuring to lock the door securely behind me. Stepping into the world outside, I felt a surge of determination coursing through me. "It's time to embark on an unforgettable journey," I resolved, setting my sights on the vast expanse of my city and the untamed wilderness that lay beyond. As I pressed the record button on the camera, I turned the lens towards my face, addressing an unseen audience with a sense of introspective urgency. "Hello there, future viewer," I began, my voice tinged with a mix of weariness and resilience. "My name is Edward Free, just an ordinary 43-year-old man grappling with the turmoil of our world, and I am setting forth on a quest to discover my purpose." With unwavering determination, I ventured deeper into the forest that straddled the border between America and Australia, the camera capturing my every step as I traversed through the dense foliage, my mind consumed by a fervent sense of purpose. It was in the heart of this untamed wilderness that I encountered an entity unlike anything I had ever seen before – a creature that defied all logic and reason, a grotesque fusion of zombie and extraterrestrial, known as a Zomblien. My breath caught in my throat as I faced this otherworldly being, its malevolent presence casting a chilling shadow over the landscape. With a steady hand, I raised the camera and captured a haunting image of the Zomblien, a testament to the surreal encounter that would forever alter the course of my journey. I slowly back away as I grab a rock off the ground and chuck it at the furthest tree which is 30 meters away, as the zombie walks towards the sound, I silently walk past it as I continue forward "Stupid critters, they are appearing more and more around the area, glad I'm leaving early" I say as I continue walking through the forest. after one hour, I break from the forest as a trail of zombies walks toward me slowly, and I come across a frozen lake. "Good something I can entertain myself with" I take one step on the ice as it breaks and I fall through it, feeling a sharp pain in my leg from a sharp stick. After a few minutes, I pull myself out of the water and lay on the ice staring at my wounded leg as I show the camera my injury "Dang that might be life-threatening, heh heh" I chuckle dryly as I talk to myself, feeling the weight of the situation I continue onwards. After a long and tiring journey, I finally stumbled upon a serene clearing nestled among the trees. The sun is beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape. I carefully survey the area and find a perfect spot to settle in for the night, ensuring that I will be well-rested and re-energized for the adventures that await me tomorrow.