Landslide
A mediation on the onslaught of the pandemic, published by the online literary magazine Rock and Sling, artwork by Fangzhi Zhao
March 15, 2020
The Center for Disease Control warns against large gatherings of over 50.
I wake up with a sore throat and a cough. I try to breathe deeply, but can’t. But really, it is nothing. I hardly feel sick. Yet I worry. Have I contracted the coronavirus? Or maybe it’s just allergies. Or just a cold. I don’t know. And there is no way to get tested. My doctor’s office has sent an email saying they can’t test anyone and that they will not be able to see patients with any kind of respiratory symptoms in person. I decide I need to do my part by being cautious, so I lock myself down in full isolation.