Story Four

99 degrees, air quality index 201 is what my phone reads as I walk back home.  I knew the temperature would reach crazy highs this week but it’s really no joke.  The high humidity makes the grip on my groceries slip and sweat builds where my glasses sit on the bridge of my nose. I readjust my face cloth inside my N95 face mask, the air quality coupled with the smoke from the wildfires irritate my asthma; particularly it’s the nasty dry cough that bothers me the most. I thought I kicked it back when I was in college but it’s back and just as annoying as before. I pull out my keys and open my door, hissing as the metal doorknob slightly stings my palm.  I switch into my house slippers and walk around to the air purifiers around the house making sure they’re all on.  Immediately my eyes water from the sense of relief as they no longer burn and can properly hydrate themselves.  Only then do I start to take off the plethora of things on my mouth and nose that shield my lungs from the violent weather. The clean air hits my nose and I feel relief when it doesn’t spur on a violent cough.  Even opening my door to pick up a package with nothing to cover my mouth starts a pain in my chest and throat.  I turn the weather channel on and listen to the anchor as they relay to us the highs of 100 degrees this week, the wildfires that are still roaring and the air currents leading all the smoke directly to us.  In the corner of the screen the date, Monday July 9th 2035 stares at me.  I look out the window and wonder what I was doing last year around this time or even 5 years ago. I was able to freely walk the park, although for a few hours without getting a small cough, but now not even an hour will pass and I’m a mess. I think back to 10 years ago when I walked the city and compared to now, oh how I wish I could go back.