I'm gonna say that it was the week after the outbreak. Keeping it simple.As I recall, the months leading up to the beginning weren’t much to remember. My unit returned home earlier that year from our tour in Iraq. I had spent three-sixty-five on ground working as military intelligence. Our group came up with those playing cards you saw on the news, the 52 most wanted. I was a hard-charged PFC back then, Private First Class, if someone finds this and doesn’t know.
But, that was the first tour. After our 3rd, I was the tired and depressed Sergeant. Nothing used to scare me back then. I didn’t fear death or what might be there on the other side if today was my day. That was then, and this is now. I write this not for anyone to really read it, but for my own sanity. Maybe if I keep track of it from when it began, it might be able to make more sense to me. Then again, maybe not.
I was 27 at the time and in my 4th year in college. My freshman year started in 2001, almost 8 years ago now. I remember the date as if it was burned into my head. May 8th, 2009.
The day after the outbreak.: Nope, Michael was asleep from the early morning following the outbreak to a day later. Remember the pancakes?
Like Hoff4D pointed out, Michael says he started college almost 8 year prior, in 2001. Colleges generally start in August or September in the U.S. No need to assume any other start date. We'll just make too many muddy assumptions if we allow for summer/spring/winter admissions. The start time for the outbreak is May 8 2009 (subtract 8 years and that's May 8 2001) May is four prior to September, thus four months shy of 8 years. From this time frame we can infer that he started his journal in the months prior to August or September.
Sometime in the first few months.: Is this enough evidence to say that he started writing months into the outbreak? Well, there are only three months between May and August, so this time frame in narrow. But, more importantly, as mentioned by NickVoodoo and Pmchawk, Michael was writing in his journal when everyone was interrupting him in Chapter 4 Part 2. We hear him writing and mentioning that he is writing. He states that he is writing about the days events and tells Tommy that he has been documenting things about their experiences. This event likely takes place within a week of the outbreak.
Some sort of final entry/ end of the story.: So, we know he didn't write it the day after the outbreak (He was asleep) and according to his statement, he started writing prior to the August/September. Also, most importantly is this sentence,He says 'now' implying that he is writing in the present tense.My freshman year started in 2001, almost 8 years ago now. I remember the date as if it was burned into my head. May 8th, 2009.
In Chapter 4, part 2 we know Michael is already documenting everything in his journal one week into the outbreak, but what about the intro? Did he write it at the same time? Looks like he did.Remember he tells Tommy that he's has been documenting events since it started? Well, he starts documenting things from the instant he writes this line... Maybe if I keep track of it from when it began, it might be able to make more sense to me.I write this not for anyone to really read it, but for my own sanity. Maybe if I keep track of it from when it began, it might be able to make more sense to me. Then again, maybe not.
Not deductive logic, just a hefty mix of inductive and abductive.
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