Co-Author: @c-NYC-
It doesn't take long for the word to get out that the virus that has hit our city is highly contagious, but it sure takes long enough for dozens of people, if not hundreds, to become riddled with the disease that corrupted us. Which is why I've been spending these last few days under my favorite tree with a case of purified water, away from civilization.
A familiar male shadow finds me by the second day. It's Oren, of course.
"If you've been near anyone within the past 72 hours, you can't come closer than 10 feet." I say.
"Don't worry," He responds. "I'll keep my distance."
I nod at him, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I know you've holed yourself away."
He looks up at the sky then back down at me again. "Gianna is gone-" He slowly looks down to the ground.
"What?" I ask, not sure if I'd heard him correctly.
"She died yesterday in the hospital."
I gnaw at my lip, trying to process what he was saying. A heavy feeling begins to sink in my stomach, and I find myself using any memory I had of her to bring her back to life in my mind. Whilst annoying and appearance-obsessed, she was technically my friend, and she didn't deserve this.
"Are people really dying because of this?" I ask quietly.
Oren is silent for a few moments. "Gianna had a few other health problems that weakened her immune system...you know how she was."
I nod, suddenly realizing. All those skipped meals for that perfect little figure really must have taken a toll on her health.
"I'm sorry about your friend, but I'm glad that you've found a way to steer clear from this stuff."
"I...yeah. What about yourself? Have you been tangling with the ill lately?" I offer him a water bottle, which he takes.
"I've stayed home. My Mom hasn't come home because she's needed at the hospital, of course." He then cracks open the water and gulps it down.
"Is anyone else we know sick," I wonder aloud.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his face falls. "Lorella is sick too. She's not at the hospital though, she's been at home."
"How do you know?" I ask.
He settles down in the grass beside me, running his fingers through his dark hair. "She could feel herself getting sick, and she told me she wasn't going to the hospital. Not over her dead body. So, it's my assumption that is where she is at."
Truthfully, I could hardly care whether Lorella Zavor was lying in her deathbed from the flu or a deadly airborne sickness, but I at least try to appear compassionate.
"You should really wash off and change your clothes," Oren says, and I can't help but laugh.
"I honestly don't want to be near anyone or anything that a person might have touched," I protest. "I'd rather stink than die."
"Come on, let's go for a swim." He drags me up and leads me down the hill to a wide river that is hidden by trees, with a sandy bank. We used to come here often and spend hot summer days wading in the crisp, clear water, without a care in the world.
"Honestly," I say, as Oren slips his shirt off and drops it in the sand, making me feel slightly awkward for being in view of his toned body. He kicks his shoes off and rolls his dark jeans up, while I stand there watching him too intently.
I continue admiring him as he wades into the clear water, up past his calves. "Come on," he calls. "Wash that stink off, pig."
"Hey, I don't smell that bad!" I declare. "I smell like nature."
"Blah blah. Don't make me come and get you."
I can hardly contain my laughter as he runs through the water and charges at me, lifting me up and running back into the river.
"Oren, please don't, it's co-"
Splash.
And now I'm sitting on my butt in the middle of the river, soaked to the bone. A lock of wet brown hair is stuck to my face.
Oren laughs at my demise, and splashes me some more. I hold my breath and lay in the water, flopping like a fish while trying to swim. Unfortunately, the water is too shallow and all I manage to do is splash Oren. I stand.
"It's a bit cold," I note.
"Stop being such a wuss," He says, smiling down at me softly.
"I guess I should go get some new clothes on," I say, turning away from his gaze. "Want to come with? My house isn't contaminated."
"Sure," He says, stepping onto the bank and ,thankfully, putting his shirt back on. We begin the walk back up to my house.
I step inside my little house with Oren right behind me, carrying my left-over water in his arms. He sets it down on the dining table and I make my way to my room, and slip on a pale grey cloak dress. I spend a few moments looking in my oval mirror, brushing out my wet hair, until I hear Oren calling for me.
"Elle?" He says.
"What?" I respond, appearing in the kitchen.
"Never mind,"
"What is it?" My eyes flicker to a single piece of white paper laying on the counter top. "What's that?"
"I don't know," He responds honestly. I grab it up and read it.
Elle,
The coronavirus that has effected this town is spreading rapidly, and is very dangerous. I must stay here to treat the patients whose numbers continue to increase. I want you to get out of here, because I know that you are a girl that can take care of yourself, even in the dire condition that this country is in. I just want you to be okay. Please, go as soon as you can, and just know that I love you. Trust no one.
Love, Dad
"This doesn't make any sense," I say stupidly, although it does, very much so. Oren reads it over my shoulder, furrowing his eyebrows in concentration. "Where am I supposed to go?"
"This must be really bad,"
"You don't say," I wail in frustration. "My dad expects me to run out into the wild and survive on my own, somewhere that I'm not familiar with at all?"
"Elle," Oren says with a dead seriousness in his voice. "I don't think you realize how much of a life-or-death situation this is. Your dad is a doctor, and he's sparing you the gory details. If he honestly thinks you need to leave this area...then you really should take that into consideration. He's not just going to tell you to do something like this for no reason. This is a last resort. We have to go."
"We?" I sputter." My eyes meet Oren's and I know he can hear the hesitation in my voice.
"Brielle, I can't let you go on your own. We've been friends for as long as either of us can remember and it doesn't end with you running away from something that I'll be running from later." The sincere look in his eyes slowly begins to compel me to change my mind.
"Fine," I start picking through the drawer trying to find anything that will aid us. "Well come on, we got to get going."
