Even after we left school for a brief “early spring break”, COVID-19 meant nothing to me. I carried on with my days like normal, watching doll videos in my free time while snacking on chips. Of course I grew to learn about what it really was as online school reeled in, but I wasn’t greatly impacted by it. Not until 2021, when it started catching on to my family. I’m not sure who was first and whatnot, but I do remember being pretty crushed. Once my parents and sisters got sick, I was frightened. I didn’t necessarily think they’d be affected that bad, but I felt isolated. When you’re in a new neighborhood with no company near you and a chance of illness right outside your window, (and your bedroom) it gets lonely. I felt down, for too many reasons to process. Through the storm, I managed to avoid catching COVID every time, but the whole event left me heavy hearted. School was beating me down too, so that didn’t make it any better. Eventually, my family healed and I got some social interaction outside of talking to people online, which was greatly beneficial. Nonetheless, COVID-19 greatly impacted my life and the people around me, but made us all stronger in the end.

More about Dara, though. When I’m sick and tired, she gives me an energy-boosting charge, and when there’s a long road trip, I never get left behind. She’s there for me when I need her, and I do the same. There’s still the “curse” part, though. Dara does have her downsides, which make her unique, if you’d like to sugarcoat it. Sometimes she leaves me running overnight, which physically crushes me, since she happens to be a side sleeper. Plus, Dara has broken my right AND my left swivel, so now my earcups are pretty much superglued on. These aren’t the worst, though, as the experiences just drew me closer to her. Undoubtedly, I wouldn’t be myself without Dara slowly benefiting my life every day. She needs to get Spotify Premium though. Like, seriously.