What I don't need

It had been a few days since I had really slept. I fell asleep finally, despite the terrible moans and wails that managed to drift into my locked bathroom. I slept amazingly well and I even had a dream. I don’t remember what it was, but it must have been a good one, because I felt good when I woke up. I decided then and there that I was going to do everything I could to weather this storm. I told myself I can make it, if for no other reason than to prove I could.

I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could better my current situation. One of the few things I was certain of was that sitting locked in my bathroom would not cut it. I thought about supplies, I was out. I thought about weapons, I had some basic tools but a hammer was the closet to a weapon. I thought about exits, but more importantly possible entrances. I didn’t want any uninvited guests. My main concern was the large bay window in the living room, and how I could seal that off. I felt pretty secure with the back door, although it was sliding glass, the fenced in patio was solid, and the gate was stuck and would not properly open.

At this point I remembered the axe handle I used to secure the sliding glass door. I didn’t need to keep the door from sliding open when it would more than likely end up being smashed. Besides, the axe handle will be a more useful weapon than a lock. One problem down, until I find something better.

I tried thinking about what I don’t need rather than what I did need. I obviously didn’t have what I needed. I walked around making a mental inventory of what I didn’t need. I got to the bedroom; I was so excited I laughed out loud. I jumped downstairs and glanced and the window and then back to the bedroom. I didn’t need a mattress and a box spring. I slid the box spring off the stairs and put it in front of the window. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but I was satisfied that a person couldn’t fit through the gaps. I secured it with the couch and TV. It was a heavy TV. It wasn’t a fortress, but it would give me some time if someone or something were to try and get in.

I was exhausted after that. I drank the last of my water. I got a good start on solving two of the three major problems I had, but I had pushed the third of having no supplies to a breaking point. I was literally dry. No water, very little food. I was going to have to go out before dark. I retreated back to the second floor, and sat by the window overlooking the parking lot. I was looking for any signs of activity, and thinking about what I was going to have to do.