The Nu Norm

you know, it was only yesterday that we had the freedom to go out and have fun. all your friends gathered together, taking selfies and partying. concerts, festivals, carnivals... places you could hang out to feed your social hunger.

now, you cannot leave the house without having half your face hidden. people who aren’t covering their faces are the monsters. you’re afraid to get too close to people and social hangouts are now a distant memory. you hear someone cough and all of your muscles tense up, hoping and praying they aren’t infectious. no other illness exists anymore. if you’re sick, you sick with this and this only.

if you died in a car accident, it wasn’t the crash that killed you... it was the virus. according to the media, everyone who is sick or passes away has the virus. it was the virus. nothing else.

you’re trapped. you’re considered an essential worker, so you have to report to your job, regardless of how scared you are. you’re made to wear a mask in the extreme heat. you can’t breath. you get lightheaded and dizzy with the lack of oxygen you’re receiving. they don’t care. you have to make their money.

you haven’t seen your only living grandparent in a year. you’re afraid to get around them because you could possibly kill them. you could be carrying the virus and not know it. you could take the virus straight to them. their death is all your fault. 

so stay home.

stay away from every single person you love. rot alone in your home with the news on the television feeding your fears even more. the virus isn’t the only thing you have to worry about.

your country is at war. protests. riots. violence. illness. will it ever get back to normal?