Inertia

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<<set $points = 0>><<set $computer = false>><<set $clothes = false>><<set $food = false>><<set $wash = false>>The first thing you notice as you wake up is the melody of birdsong just outside your window. Squinting against the midmorning light that filters in from between your curtains, you groan. On any other day, the sound of birds would be delightful. However, this morning, your limbs feel particularly heavy, and the cheerful chirping is high-pitched enough to set your nerves on edge. You close your eyes tighter against the glare of sunlight. Unfortunately, you have things to do today. [[Get out of bed?|1]] [[Roll over and go back to sleep?|lose1]]

<<set $points += 1>> The idea of just staying in bed, obligations be damned, is almost overwhelming. However, you know you'll feel bad later if you [[flake out|side2]]. So you drag yourself away from your bed, blinking away the last grey traces of unconsciousness. It was a rough night. You didn't even lay down until almost 2 in the morning, and you woke up several times. You still feel exhausted. [[Continue|2]]

You turn away from the window, covering your eyes with a blanketed arm. It's too early for this. You'll make a [[call|side1]] later and claim you were sick. Your bed is warm and soft. Sleep reclaims you with an almost violent tug. You won't wake up again for nearly twelve hours. --- You have 0 points. Not a very good day. [[Play again?|start]]

(In the back of your mind, you know you aren't going to make the call.) [[back|lose1]]

Welcome to "Inertia"! This is a brief game about disability and motion. [[Play on!|start]]

You have a therapy appointment today, and you need to go to the store. There's a lot to do before you go anywhere, though. <<if $computer is false>> <<if $clothes is false>>[[Get dressed?|ready1]]<</if>> <<if $wash is false>>[[Shower?|ready2]]<</if>> <<if $food is false>>[[Eat something?|ready3]]<</if>> [[Use your computer?|ready4]] <<if $points lt 2>>[[Take a nap?|lose2]]<</if>> <</if>> <<if $points gt 2 or $computer is true>> [[Time to go!|3]] <</if>>

It wouldn't be a good idea to go outside naked, right? You're really tired, though, and you have a lot of walking to do. Best to go for comfort. You grab a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Your shoes have gel inserts to provide support. Until you put those on, though, you have a pair of old slippers to use around the house. Accessories are out of the question. Jewelry would make you feel like your nerves are on fire, and you keep your hair short these days to avoid tangles, so you can't do much with it. <<set $clothes = true>><<set $points += 1>>[[back|2]]

It's been a few days, and you're starting to smell. However, you're going to need to conserve your energy, and standing in the tub would ensure that your back pain would set in sooner than usual. You opt for a quick sink wash and a healthy layer of deodorant. You're still self conscious, and your hair will be greasy by the end of the day, but at least you won't be noticeably smelly. <<set $wash = true>><<set $points += 1>>[[back|2]]

Eating is always hit-or-miss, mostly because you forget to do it half the time. You open the pantry and, thankfully, find your favorite cereal. Filling a bowl with cheerios and milk, you go over to the couch to eat. In a moment of forethought, you grab a chocolate bar and a bottle of water and stuff them in your bag. <<set $food = true>><<set $points += 1>>[[back|2]]

<<set $computer = true>>Just in case you got something important, you decide to hop online for a little bit. A few hours pass before you realize how much time you've burned. You put the computer away before you can get distracted again! [[back|2]]

<<set $points = 0>> <<set $computer = false>> <<set $clothes = false>> <<set $food = false>> <<set $wash = false>>

(Again.) [[back|1]]

Another few minutes won't hurt anything, right? (Wrong. You accidentally sleep for twelve hours. Oops!) --- You have <<print $points>> points. Not a very good day. [[Play again?|start]]

You've gotten ready as best you can today. Stuffing your feet into your shoes, you pull your [[walker]] over to the front door. Your day bag goes into the basket beneath the walker's seat. Thankfully, the store and your therapist are both within walking distance. Or at least, they are //now//. Before you got your walker, you had to catch the bus and walk the rest of the way unaided, which was an ordeal and a half. Things are a lot better now than they were a few months ago. Anyway, you leave your apartment and start the slow walk to your therapist's office. [[Continue|4]]

It's a sort of clunky piece of equipment that can just about get through an average doorway. Narrow spaces are impossible to navigate unless you can pick the walker up, and the darn thing's around 20 pounds! Still, you love it. It has a seat and plenty of basket space, and you've even decorated it with colorful duct tape! And best of all, you can actually go for walks again now that you have it! [[back|3]]

<<set $points += 1>>It takes about twenty minutes to get to the therapist's office. If you were of average health, it'd only take about five. As it is, though, you have to stop regularly to sit on your walker, and you can only go so fast in general. The important thing is that you made it, though! Your appointment runs a bit long, and it's full of emotionally exhausting discussion. You leave feeling drained, but satisfied that you got your money's worth. [[Go to the store?|5]] [[Skip the store and go home?|end1]]

It takes another ten minutes to get to the store, and ten more to walk around gathering the various items you need; toilet paper, paper plates, canned fruit and vegetables. You can't quite afford the little microwave burgers you usually have for lunch, unfortunately. This month has been pretty hard on your wallet. You grab the cheapest bag of chips they have, then go up to pay for everything. Thanking the powers that be for the fact that your walker has a basket, you stow the groceries and start heading home. The return trip takes much longer than the initial walk did, since you're weighed down with food and your back is aching something fierce. <<set $points += 3>>[[Continue|6]]

You haven't gotten everything done that you meant to, but between the walking and the appointment itself, you're exhausted. Your back screams at you all the way home. Without the energy to do much else, you mess around on the computer for a few hours and then go to bed. --- You have <<print $points>> points. <<if $points gt 2>>Not a bad day, but not the best either.<<else>>Not a very good day.<</if>> [[Play again?|start]]

Eventually, you get home. The last of your energy goes to putting your purchases away and taking your medicine. You spend the rest of the day on the [[computer|side3]]. You actually remember to eat again later that day, storing the meal's energy so you hopefully won't be completely burnt out tomorrow. That night, you sleep soundly. --- You have <<print $points>> points. It was a tiring day, but it was worth it! [[Play again?|start]]

To an outside observer, it might seem like you spend way too much time online. However, considering how little you're able to get out of the house, you're thankful for your internet access. It lets you keep in touch with your friends, check your bank balance, and any number of other things that make your life a bit easier. (And it's fun, of course.) [[back|6]]