I lie here on my bed with nothing to do but write in this diary. With only candlelight, it’s a strain to read the magazines that are available. So many thoughts go through my mind as I'm lying here tonight. I keep thinking back to the 16th when the humming noise first started, that seems so long ago now, but in reality it was only 6 days ago. I remember all the animals at the vet’s office acting strange, Ralph growling at me for the first time ever, and birds falling out of the sky onto my truck. And then the very next day…nothing…nobody but me to try and figure out what is going on. I refuse to believe there aren’t other people somewhere. That is why I am going to the CDC in Atlanta. If there are others like me, most likely they're headed there thinking it was a chemical or disease that caused this. But even if that is true, where are the bodies? I pray that I find someone, I've got to find someone to talk to. Just the thought of talking to another living, breathing human being gives me even more of an incentive to continue on with my journey. But what if there is no one in Atlanta? What then? Where do I go next? I don’t know, I honestly do not know.
10:06PM
Dear Diary
I again heard a noise. The front door was closed this time, but in the darkness of the lobby I could almost “feel” a presence. That may be my mental instability playing tricks on me. At this point, I have to consider the possibility that this whole event has affected my mental capacity, or it may just be fear. It is dark, and there's no light except for the faint flickering of this candle. I have to get more candles also. I will keep candles burning tonight, I’m that scared. I’m scared about a lot of things right now. What happens if I get sick? Who is going to take care of me? Where can I get aid? I have to find other people. I just have to. Where is God? Mama always told me that even in the deepest of valleys, God is there with you. But this is something Mama wouldn’t have thought could ever happen. My faith is all I have left right now, I must not lose faith in God. I don’t know why this happened. Surely, this is some kind of test for me. The light is so dim that I can’t read one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, Psalm 23. But I know it by heart:
The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
It’s odd…I've never been nearly as religious as Mama wanted me to be, I just wasn’t built that way. But after writing that in my diary, I think I can sleep now. I need to. I have another long day ahead of me.
Alone on Earth – Entry #8
November 23, 2016
4:52AM
Dear Diary
I haven't slept all night. After hearing these two distinct noises, sleep was impossible. It was almost like a “thud” or someone banging their open hand against the wall. I have stated previously, in this diary, the overwhelming sensation I sometimes have of someone watching me. I know that is probably due to the neurotic phase I presently am going through, but I just can’t get over the feeling. As soon as the daylight comes, I’ll be going to Target across the street, look for some food, and get a bigger jacket. I think it must be close to 35-40 degrees outside. Having that kind of cold weather this time of year is not that unusual for Alabama, but this coldness just seems different for some reason. I need to go “shopping” now.
7:46AM
Dear Diary
Found a little disposable grill that heats up by the built-in charcoal. I picked up some mini-breakfasts at the grocery portion of Target, got some bottled water (I dearly wanted some OJ, but decided I better not). I ate two packages of sausage links (I know I shouldn’t have), scrambled eggs, French bread. It was hot, and I needed it after a bitterly cold night. Started the grill up right at the entrance. I am full now. I have gotten myself a bigger jacket and found some candles that I'm sure I will need. Again, no batteries work here. I have tried three different flashlights with all the batteries I could find. None will work. This is something I have got to find an answer to. It is tiresome push starting this huge Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. My back was killing me last night as I tossed and turned in bed. I have sleep apnea. That is another problem I am dealing with insofar as sleep. I know my blood pressure is up. But I don’t know what I can do about the sleep apnea other than sleeping on my side. I will try to get my CPAP going with the generator when I get home.
8:30AM
Dear Diary
I have loaded up some additional items on the Honda such as a hunting knife, another blanket and the candles. Target is just like the malls back in Mobile. They are filled with cars. It’s just like a normal day during the week, except it is anything but normal. There is no one here. It’s just me and this Honda motorcycle. The only thing I can say that is different is that a small aircraft (possibly a Cessna) evidently crashed and burned about a quarter mile from this Target shopping center. Of course, no trace of human bodies to be found. I need to end this entry and push off this bike. My next entry should be when I get to Georgia on I-85.
11:13AM
Dear Diary
I have stopped off in Lagrange, Georgia. I could not go any further. The cars, trucks, and semi-tractor trailers that had crashed on I-85 were a sight I cannot begin to adequately describe. I cannot begin to imagine how people can just disappear, suddenly and without any evidence. That is all I can figure out right now. I found one old Nissan Armada that had slammed into a semi carrying fuel oil. The fire must have been unbelievably hot. The interstate where the accident occurred is still smoking, I suppose it all happened sometime during the night of the 16th and morning of the 17th. That is my best guess for when this “event” (the only way I can categorize it at the moment) took place. The most heartbreaking thing: I found a baby’s pacifier on the side of the interstate. Where are the children??? How could this thing, this event, this “it” harm innocent children? There was a doll I found in one Honda Accord not far from this accident, and now this is eating me alive. It is unbearable to deal with right now. I do know this: These cars and trucks were mostly tightly grouped together. This tells me they were most likely running from something, and they were headed east to Atlanta. That gives me hope - not much hope, but something. Maybe some people made it. I need to go search for a place to spend the night. I can’t get on this interstate right now.
3:32PM
Dear Diary
I’m going to spend the night in this Baptist church in Lagrange tonight. I have looked for another one of those disposable grills like I found at the Target in Montgomery. But so far, no luck. I was going to heat up some of the canned beef stew I found at a local supermarket. I suppose I can build me a fire and heat up the stew by holding the top with my pliers, but that is tough to do. Life in this world is not easy, I can see that right now. I’m trying to figure out why there are so many cars in the church parking lot. The 16th was on a Thursday, as I recall, the 17th a Friday. So, why so many cars here? It doesn’t make sense unless…unless people thought there was something they found to be threatening. I have always heard that if there was ever a life ending event for Earth, the churches would be filled to capacity. The 16th scared a lot of people due to the humming noise, but this parking lot is filled to capacity. Could people have been that scared? My head is spinning…I need to build a fire…it’s come down to that again for civilization…or what is left of it. God, what have we done to ourselves on this planet?
7:05PM
Dear Diary
I continue to find curious things in Lagrange. Six Lagrange Police cars are lined up blocking the main exit from the city. Why would they do that? As I have cruised around this little country town, more