He lived in a high rise on the 80th floor

It was always windy on his balcony

So much that he dared not put furniture out there

Today it was super windy with 50mph gusts

A tropical storm with driving rain

He sensed that the building was swaying in the wind

Not violently but a gentle sway

Setting his telescope on a distant ground object

Confirmed the movement of the building

He was not at all concerned

He knew that skyscrapers moved in the wind

Just like tall trees sway in the breeze

There was a knock at the door

He had ordered a pizza

Despite turning the handle the door stayed shut

He asked the delivery man to push the door

It was jammed shut

He called downstairs to the management office

They sent up a maintenance crew

The management office called him

Movement in the building had shifted his door frame

It was happening to many units today they said

They asked him to try his balcony sliding door

It was jammed shut also

Stay calm assured the building manager

We will get your front door open soon

He could hear power tools in the corridor

He sensed the building was swaying more

Visual confirmation with his telescope

Then the power started to flicker

Before going off completely

It was still daytime but would soon be dark

He heard a loud noise in the bedroom

Rushing in to see the bedroom window cracked

Howling wind blew in the glass fragments

Instinctively jumping out and closing the bedroom door

He could hear debris flying around the bedroom

A splashing noise led him to the kitchen

Water was streaming from the ceiling

A burst pipe somewhere above his apartment

It could be worse he thought

At least I am not trapped inside in a fire

A loud explosion in the corridor rattled him

Then the fire alarm sounded

Smoke started to seep in from under his front door

He looked through the peep hole

The corridor was filling with smoke

He put a wet towel under the door to stop the smoke entering

No answer when he called the management office

No wifi for his phone or laptop

All cellular signals were down too

He slipped on the wet kitchen floor

Hitting his head on the granite countertop

He blacked out

When he woke up it was nighttime

Total darkness added to his confusion

He sat up and realized he was in bed

The light turned on so there was electricity

No water damage in the kitchen

It must have all been a dream

Just for curiosity he tried to open the main door

It was jammed shut

His phone had no cellular signal either………………