No Mask: A 2020 Horror Story.

It wasn’t until he hit the highway that he realized he had no mask. His thoughts ran frantically through his head, trying to figure out what to do. Should he turn back home? It was ten minutes behind him now, and there was a lot of construction that would hinder his ability to get home quickly. But surely, he couldn’t go anywhere without it, could he?

He considered where he was going, what he was doing. He only needed to get to the grocery store. He just needed a few supplies to carry him through the week. And the store sold masks, didn’t they? But they wouldn’t let him inside without one, not even to buy one.

He continued to drive down the highway, his eyes scanning every exit sign as he got further and further from the house. He knew he should turn back, but the more he drove, the more time it was going to take to get back home and find a mask. And then, would he have enough willpower to go back outside? It had taken enough just to force himself into the car the first time.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to leave his house; he loved driving places and doing things. But his anxiety always got the better of him; it was safer to stay at home. There was more risk every time he stepped outside, every time he entered a store, breathed their recycled air. Every time he walked near someone who’s mask was too loose or wasn’t covering their nose…