Self sufficiency is the keystone of narcissism, Monkey Keys. People who become too reliant on themselves start to come to the rationalization they don’t need anyone else. Perhaps there is an air of truth to the idea. Once you’ve conquered feeding, clothing and sheltering yourself, what good is another survivor? They’re just going to tap into your key resources causing you to work even harder for the same end. Heaven forbid they aren’t a good shot. Then, when the zombies finally do break through your carefully planned fortifications, they’ll be wasting bullets as well. As you’re both being torn asunder by the ravenous jaws of the undead, I can guarantee you the thought of having gone it alone will sound appealing.
“Zombies are make-believe Dylan.” You will be sadly mistaken one day, Unpreparedness Key. A year ago, the thought of making it on my own was frightening and unprecedented to me. I was unable to fold laundry in a way that that didn’t make me look homeless. I never cleaned a room in the house. Sometimes my shoulder made a weird popping sound, and I had no idea why. Food was often a hodgepodge of ketchup, bread and ramen noodles. (Ok, in hindsight the last statement is still true.)
As time passed, and I went through an awesome montage scene, I got better. I learned the intricacies of life and found better ways to do things. It wasn’t long before I was confident in myself. On my own, I could get through anything life threw. I learned not to make a molehill out of an atom-bomb, and I knew that I would always figure something out. I was the highlander, and any who opposed me would greet my katana with wide-eyed horror before the end. Perhaps that’s why everything started to taste so sour.
The fact of it was, I had become complacent with life. I found a way to make it work. I mistook wandering my neighborhood for traveling the world. When I finally got free of the Matrix, I realized a year of my life had crept by in the span of a girl’s wink. Then I realized I couldn’t have freed myself. I had needed someone else after all.
I believe if you’re not scared every day you aren’t living life right. There should always be a horde of zombies to fight through. If you’re able to fend them off yourself, it’s time to kick the barricade down and make a run for the chopper. You’ll find Keys to help you along the way. They won’t all be good shots, but they may be able to read the Russian on the Ural you try to hotwire. As you’re being airlifted from the infested city you called a home, one will be flying and one will be holding you up. Suddenly, being a good shot won’t be necessary anymore. You’ll all land together in the beautiful countryside. The greatest thing happens when you realize all you’re doing is tapping into their key resources, and causing them to work even harder for the same end. You’re holding them back, and they don’t care.
I’m not out yet, Monkey Keys. I’m making a run for it though, and I want to say thank you. Thank you for waking me up, for covering my escape and for inevitably being there when I land. Thank you, because I can’t do this on my own, and I’ll do my best to repay the favor.
