*I left the original so it could be compared to this one. I tried to slow the action down, and left details out so I could add them later. Thanks for all the previous suggestions!*
I clutched my jacket tightly as a bone-chilling breeze went through the now abandoned streets. It once had been a grand city with neon lights flashing 24/7, and skyscrapers that reached the clouds. Now they called it “The City that Forever Sleeps”. It was the trademark of a great nation, known by all. But this is what was left of it, this was New York City. One by one, the great cities of the world fell apart. An epidemic that changed the earth forever.
Of course, I’m only a small part of all of this tragedy. My name is Matt. I’m seventeen, I have dark-brown hair, brown eyes, pale…I don’t exactly stand out. I live in the Bronx, what was previously thought of as the ghetto of New York, doesn’t seem like that anymore. Most of New York is similar to the Bronx now, so it’s difficult to differentiate one part of the city from the other.
Although I’ve lived in New York for as long as I can remember, my complete lack of any sense of direction had me nearly passing my paint-chipped door for the hundredth time. When I realized which part of the wall was the door, I happily bustled into the entrance to get out of the cold. The sun’s faint light filtered in behind me to reveal an antiquated, shabby apartment that I shared with my friend Cairo. It still surprises me that we’re friends-despite the fact that we’re the same age, we couldn’t be more different. He’s the optimist and, shall I say, aesthetically pleasing one. If we lived in a better time and went to school, then he would be the one getting all the girls. His dark skin and green eyes are definitely unique.
“Hey Matt, come watch this,” Cairo yelled from the living room, which consisted of a mildewed sofa and a timeworn television.
As usual procedure went, I strode into the room. This wasn’t anything new. Cairo was always telling me what was going on in the news.
“Come on, hurry up! Listen to this!”
“All right, I’m coming,” I groaned.
I slumped into the sofa and it swallowed me like quick-sand. We would have to steal a new one soon. Suddenly, a neatly dressed woman reporter popped onto the screen.
“Another victim has sadly succumb to GD today. Here is a small clip from this recurring problem.”
A second woman, this one resembling an escapee from an asylum, appeared on the screen with much less composure.
“It’s them! The ones that run everything! It’s their fault! Their fault! I know! I know! You‘re all being tricked…puppets! The higher-ups…coming for you. Can‘t you all see!? ”
The reporter spoke once again.
“This woman with GD is clearly suffering from mental inabilities and a slow deterioration of her nervous system--”
“Cairo, turn that off,” I fussed rubbing my forehead. I hated seeing the horrors constantly displayed on the news.
“Sorry. Just trying to keep you updated on what‘s going on though,” Cairo retorted.
“I don‘t need to see anymore about that disease. I‘ve seen enough for a lifetime.”
“Haven‘t we all?” Cairo sighed.
“But people aren’t getting this disease and going insane for no reason,” he added all-knowingly.
Knowing Cairo, he was going to continue talking about GD and bring that up, so I tried to divert his attention. “I know that. Let’s just go out and try to find something to eat for now. That is, if we can find anything at all.”
“I’m sure we’ll find something good to eat. Hey, how about Oriana’s? She’s usually stocked up,” Cairo said heading for the door.
“Uh, Oriana’s? How about we go somewhere else?” I suggested nervously.
“Somewhere else? Why?”
“It--It’s getting late and we shouldn’t wander around in the dark. Oriana’s is too far from here,” I was grasping at any excuse.
“Nah, we’ll be fine! You worry too much!” Cairo chuckled and then gave me a funny look.
“You do usually get up-tight when we’re around her. Just calm down buddy, you’ll be okay.” And with that Cairo pulled his coat on and was out the door.
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