I loved Fridays as a kid, just as most did. The shared feeling of excitement as the weekend approaches and we’d get to sleep in and not worry about homework or assignments, seemed like a dream. One Friday changed everything, though. I recall being excited as we had presentations, I had worked so hard with the help of my dad, as tired as he was. It started off normally, I went into school with my huge poster board attached to the back of my huge bag as a 5th grader and went to my classroom. It was about halfway through the day when the call happened.

“Marisa, you’re going home” my teacher had said. A bit confused, but almost excited as I assumed there was something exciting at home, but boy was I wrong.

My cousin picked me up, we lived just three blocks from the school, so walking distance. The walk was calm, we made small talk and even joked, but I still hadn’t found out why I was going home so early.

Entering my darkened house, I see my dad distantly washing his face near the bathroom mirror. He walked toward me and asked me to sit on the couch. As he got closer, my nervousness increased as I saw the red, teary eyes.

“Mom” and “Heaven” were the only words I could make out.

The cold memory stuck with me as I was reminded of it every time the classroom phone rang, signaling a kid was being picked up. Surely it is usually the most innocent reasons; a doctor’s appointment or even just to spend the day with a parent, but for the life of me I can’t get that association out of my head, I can’t see someone leave class early without automatically assuming there is a family emergency. A death. It always takes a minute or so to calm my beating heart.

“I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting,” Liliane says as she breaks the silence. Her voice echos through the empty room that seemed to go on for miles.

“About?” Amelia inquires. Taking a glance around the room, she notices that the once red-stained walls had now been painted white. It had been a while since she stepped into the residence that used to be her second home.

“Life,” a vague answer comes from Liliane that causes an eyebrow raise from Amelia. Liliane was now staring out the window, looking into the gloomy sky. If not for the genuine concern, Amelia might’ve laughed at how dramatic this looked. 

“Gotta be more specific than that Lils” Amelia jokes, trying to get a smile out of the suddenly serious and seemingly queasy older woman. It had been strange being back here, still in confusion as to what caused the sudden invitation, but Amelia figured she would find out soon enough.

“I gave up everything for this, everything and now it’s gone. What do I have now? Who do I have now?” Liliane says bitterly. Amelia goes to say something, though somewhat at a loss for words when Liliane cuts her off.

“This lifestyle was the only thing I desired. To have a whole world of supporters, and yet I look around in times like these, and I have no one. All those awards, recognitions, everything was just a waste. Turning away happiness for what I felt was best for my career” a sharp intake at the words coming out of her own mouth. Amelia begins to get up, wanting to sit closer to her old friend who was growing increasingly distressed.

“I’m sick, Amelia” Liliane states in a cold manner as she begins to walk out of the room, leaving Amelia to wonder what the hell to do with this.

I walk past quickly taking a glance 

My old classroom still I stood 

New things stuck in a trance 

The sound of my loud old neighborhood 

The place I took my chance  

One day I knew I could 

A friendly scene to grow 

Not to forget my roots, though

When hearing that schools would be returning to in-person classes in the Fall, I immediately worried for the safety of me, my family, and others around me. Though the mask mandate is still in place, many people are refusing to wear them, still believing them to be helpless. Cases have been going back up, which translates as “We’ve been wearing masks this whole time and covid is still here, therefore, masks are useless and I don’t need to wear one.” to those who believe the mandate is optional. Vaccines are out, and while many rushed to get them as soon as possible, a large percentage of the country protest against them. “It’s a hoax”, “The vaccine isn’t safe!”, “I’m not putting that in my body” despite that the vaccine has been deemed safe and effective. While the vaccine does not fully prevent the chances of an individual catching covid, it has proven to lessen the effects and prevent hospitalization. These “covid hoax” are comments I frequently see posted all over social media, discussion boards, etc. Sometimes, it’s difficult for me to comprehend how people even come up with these, it seems like they are making up fake information and spreading it online to influence in the opposite direction, toward the danger that a further outbreak could cause. Recently, I have begun to participate in these discussions, letting people know just how important it is to go out and get vaccinated, but even after that to continue wearing your mask. Not only for your safety but for the young children who cannot get vaccinated and are put at greater risk. “Life needs to go back to normal at some point” was the most recent comment I read, and I agree, but the only way to do that is to get vaccinated.