Sleeping Beauty Syndrome

5

We sat spellbound in front of the TV all day and watched news from all over the world. The new virus, commonly known as the fever, was spreading rapidly.

The number of people infected doubled within 5 hours, hospitals were full and people were asked to stay at home even if they were ill.

Due to the rapid worsening of the situation, it was assumed that people would fall ill within 12 hours of contact, but of course you couldn't be sure. Nevertheless, we breathed a sigh of relief as we had already exceeded this time.

We literally did nothing but stare at the screen in shock and bewilderment. The fever had taken over the world in just 24 hours. The number of infected and dead was now being updated every hour.

We all clung to each other and Juhee kept taking our temperature. As the delivery services had stopped working, we cooked for ourselves. At some point, we switched from our small apartment to the dorm, as there was more space in the living room and the living area was much bigger.

We gradually fell asleep in the evening, not even bothering to get into our beds, but lying next to each other or half on top of each other, as nobody wanted to be alone while the world around us was slowly but surely falling apart.

The situation was even worse in the morning.

All over the world people were panicking, looting and in some cities, people were shooting each other in the streets fighting for food.

Half the world's population was now infected, the now countless dead were simply thrown into mass graves and set on fire, whereupon several scientists warned that the ashes might also be contagious.

Another report brought hope, as a Chinese scientist had allegedly already developed a vaccine that could cure those who had already fallen ill. But we didn't have time to wait for the tests, so they simply released it and would start producing it tomorrow.

Experts calculated that by the time the vaccinations started, more than half of the people would already be dead. Children and their mothers would get priority when it came to the distribution, the rest would probably have to dig deep into their pockets.

I looked at Juhee, neither of us had much money, so our only hope was that we would get our vaccinations paid for by the Company, the boys were sure the CEO wouldn't risk losing his main source of income.

Two days later the first vaccinations began, by which time more than a third of the world's population was dead. That night, the old janitor had been taken away after he didn't open the door when we went to check on him. His wife had died the day before without him being able to see her again. As a result, he had hung himself up and the security service we had called found him.

Yunho, who had often talked and laughed with the old man, broke down crying and Juhee took him in his arms and rocked him back and forth for hours. San became more and more panicked when he couldn't reach his family and Wooyoung, after a phone call with his aunt, sat down next to me with a petrified face and only took my hand.

I sat on his lap and hugged him tightly, he returned the hug and rested his head on my shoulder.

"They're dead, Noona... Almost my whole family and my aunt has a fever..." he whispered tonelessly.

"Now I'm all alone..."