March 12, 2020, worries about Corona began to rise into the public media
March 17 2020, the Capital of Canada (Ontario) goes on lockdown
By April 28, half the planet is on Lockdown
Hugo and Ashton would have been 18 at this time
> > > >
One girl groans. "Ugh! This is literally the worst thing that can ever happen!"
A boy asks, "Wait, what's going to happen now?"
Another girl starts sobbing. "I'm not ready for this. I'm not ready for this."
A different boy slowly falls back into his seat. "This isn't happening."
As the teacher starts trying to calm everyone, I retreat into my brain
What the f#ck ...
Just a few days ago, we were waving our hands down and saying "Yeah, there's no way COVID is gonna come'ere, eh?"
Just a few hours ago we were all laughing together and saying we couldn't wait to graduate.
This was supposed to be a good final year of highschool.
The "best year ever".
There's no way this virus is worth all the panicking the people around me are doing ...
Right?
My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my hoodie pocket. It's my friend Ash.
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ASH: Covid is getting serious, apparently
ASH: my homeroom is freaking out
ME: same
ASH: How are you feeling?
ME: kind of shocked
ME: this is gonna sound weird but I guess I get to go home and tell my Doctor/Mother she was right
ASH: she probably saw this coming
ASH: I sure didn't
ME: I'm not even entirely sure what's happening with all this
My phone buzzes again so I know someone else is texting me.
I look and see it's from my sister.
SAM: Have you seen the news? Parts of the world are calling this virus a state of emergency
ME: from the way my homeroom is freaking out right now, I can believe it
SAM: are you worried?
ME: I'm kind of too numb to worry but I'm some way- yes?
SAM: you me me both. Even my classmates at the college are really anxious over it too
ME: good grief, is anyone not freaking out?
SAM: this isn't the kind of news people take lightly
> > > >
It's the third day of lockdown.
Sam stays in the kitchen and does her zoom call classes, and I'm with Google Classroom.
Neither of us are adapting well to it but grades are the least of my worries right now.
This morning, I noticed Sam has started tugging on her hair.
Early this afternoon, I noticed she must be pulling it out because there was a small but forming pile of hair on the floor behind her.
I kind of expected something like this since my sister is autistic and doesn't handle a change in routine well.
But still. Seeing my 22 year old sister this worked up when even a family's death didn't shake her is kind of scary.
Now, it's a little before dinner time.
Mom is still at the hospital and Dad is busy trying to figure out working from home...
Sam is anxious but I can keep calm.
I can be strong for her.
And for me, that means keeping positive.
"Hey, Sam. You have a minuet?"
She looks tired. "Hey. What's up?"
"You wanna know what we haven't done in a really long time?"
"What?"
"Remember when I was in middle school and you had us do reaction videos together?"
"Oh yeah!" Sam laughs, and for a moment she looks more herself. "I'd put something in the Spanish dub and you'd make me turn on the subtitles."
"We heckled Sailor Moon and MLP hard."
"You do heckle very well."
"You're funny too."
Damm- complimenting her feels weird. But also kind of reliving for some reason.
"Let's turn something on. I'll even let you pick. If you want, you can record it. Just like we used to."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
She looks happy. This won't keep her happy but for today, I hope it's enough.
"Besides~" I grin. "I'm sure that DiligantlyDistracted misses my charm."
"Oh please. You're just lucky sibling stuff gets attention quick."
"I don't think that's true."
"Are you kidding me? Have you seen those videos where people have family members guess character names? That stuff is really getting popular!"
"Oh my god I love those!"
We both laugh, and for a moment, we can pretend this is just like any other night.