I unzipped my sleeping bag, rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched my arms over my head. Today was the day I had been looking forward to. Five days in this underground concrete 3 metre by 3 metre room was beginning to have a depressing and suffocating effect on me.

The first two days were an adventure, but as the days and nights dragged on, it became very boring. The radio was my only companion, although there was a mobile phone in case of an emergency I felt completely isolated. I had my log book to fill in, daily exercises to do and several books to read, but I missed the contact with other human beings.

I find that I am talking to myself more often and questioning my sanity about agreeing to be part of this experiment. I have found out some things about myself. Some good, some bad. I really do not mind being on my own, in fact at times I quite enjoy it. I think I am my own best friend. If only I didn't feel so unclean. My hair is a mess and feels stiff with dirt.

I am really looking forward to soaking in a hot bath and washing the grime from my hair and body. I will sit in the bath until my skin starts to wrinkle and I will have a nice, hot ,decent meal when I have finished. Five days on tin foods, raw fruits and vegetables, cereals and breads can become boring. I have had nightmares about Big Mac's chasing and gobbling me up.

One last clean up, everything packed, now I just have to wait for the door to be opened and I will be free at last. Strange, the clock radio has stopped at midnight. Where's my watch? Here it is in my pocket. Nine-thirty, someone should have been here by now. Now the light is flickering, better get the torch ready. The power unit must have gone down. The batteries are supposed to hold for twelve hours until the generator kicks in. I hope it does soon as I need the power for my oxygen. If it doesn't I will have to use the tank and mask. I am starting to panic, can't breathe, how does this thing work. Got it, breathe in slowly, stop.

Now the torch is flickering, time to get the emergency key. I smash the glass with the end of my torch, remove the key and place it in the lock. I struggle with the lock. Why won't it turn? Where is everybody? Click, the key finally turns and I push the door open. A heavy silence greets me. I walk slowly up the first few steps, then I run to the top to greet society again. My excitement turns to horror as I view the landscape before me. Everything is destroyed, the air is thick with dust particles and the sky is not visible.

A shiver travels through me like an icy hand touching me and my chest feels as though it will explode. I can't breathe. I rush back to the room, shut the door and reach for the oxygen tank. Thoughts are rushing through my head. What had happened? I try the radio, it is dead and so is the mobile phone.

Dragging the oxygen tank with the mask firmly to my face, I go to the surface again. I walk a short way in all directions. Nothing, no one, no sounds, just an orange cloud spreading across the horizon. My God, they finally did it, someone dropped the bomb. No, I scream. My voice echoes despair and the despair in my voice echoes back to me.

I go back to the room and lock the door. I have food and water for a couple of more days, but little oxygen. What should I do? If I stay here I will die slowly. If I go outside I will die slowly also. The worst thing about it is that I will die alone without family and friends. I hope they died quickly, but I wish I was there with them.

I will go outside one more time to be sure there is not a thing alive. I am unable to go far as it is impossible to breathe and difficult to see. I listen, not a sound, not a living breathing thing.

I struggle back to the room and close the door. I guess this is the end of the world or maybe just this part of it. Where's that log book? Might as well fill in the events of the last few hours. Maybe in time someone will uncover this room like the tombs of the ancient Egyptians. They will be amazed by the things in here, so I will tell them the story and describe the items. Of course, nothing might be left of me or the things in the room and maybe no one will come, but at least it will keep me from thinking how alone I am.

Brushing tears from my eyes, I start to write in the darkness. As my eyes become accustomed to it, I see how shaky my writing is. The air in the tank has just about gone and the writing is finished. I zip up the sleeping bag and just as I lapse into unconsciousness, somewhere a fly buzzed!!