It has affected me too – my school life, social life. I was not even able to see my beloved family members. So, when Covid-19 was first recognised, my school was immediately shut down. And finally, after two weeks of self-quarantine at home, my school life suddenly switched to online class. I was horrified. I really didn’t want to switch to online classes! My eyes always got really tired after class, and sometimes I couldn’t concentrate in class. It sometimes gets really bored at home, it’s like I am under house arrest. 

                           Anyway, hopefully all my family members continue to stay safe and I hope this pandemic is over so that I can resume back to my normal life. I would like to stop having to wear a mask wherever I go. It is uncomfortable and I am unable to breath properly!  

Covid-19 is a very harmful virus. This virus came from Wuhan, China. All the people who got this virus from Wuhan and travelled all around the world, have spread it to other people who are living in other countries. After this virus became too serious, our Prime Minister told us that our country will be under lockdown for 2 weeks. 

During these 2 weeks, our school teacher signed up an account for us and they began teaching us online. On the first day, I did not know what online studying was all about. We were asked to get into an online Google Meet link. Unfortunately, I did not know how to do this. A good friend of mine, Mike, was kind enough to assist me. This helped me understand the usage of it better. 

After a few months, I became more familiar and knew where our class links were. The feeling of online studying is absolutely boring. This is because after school, we just need to stay at home and are not allowed to go anywhere. 

I hope that this pandemic will be over soon. It took a whole year for us to get back to our physical studies. 

Let’s pray hard and stay safe!

Dear diary, 

      School has closed due to corona since there were many cases. We started online classes as the school didn’t want to waste time. During online classes, we did online quizzes but it was confusing until I got used to the environment. I had a lot of free time during the lockdown so I purchased a skateboard online as a new hobby and learnt how to skate. Besides that, I got more interested in reading and bought some books to read during my free time. This lock down has made me appreciate my family more. As I spend more time with them, it gives me the opportunity to understand my family more. I also learnt how to handle difficulties with a positive mind. It has made me realise the value of attending physical classes at school. Overall, this lockdown has given me many lessons about life. 

Chloe 

Due to the virus, everyone has to stay at home. School closed down, people have to work from home and lots of people lost their jobs because of this. For students, including me, had to stay at home and study online. This started at March 2020. At first, I was delighted. I have always wanted to stay at home, not waking up early in the morning and spend my whole day at school, crowded with students. But slowly, I found online class boring. We did not have group activities or any sports, just listening to the teacher behind the screen.

But even though staying at home has it disadvantages, it also has advantages too. During the period of staying at home, I can spend more time with my family than before and makes me appreciate my family more. I could also do some activities with my family for example, helping to cook, learning to bake together and try to understand each other better.

But now that schools, and some shops are open, I think that is much better and hope we can maintain this with the minimum people getting COVID-19. But for that, we need to keep clean at all times and always wear a mask when going out. 

 To avoid getting infected,
Social distancing is the key,
We have to maintain distancing,
Avoid social contact,
To avoid getting infected by others,
If we meet our friends,
We can’t hug each other,
We keep social distance,
That's sad for us. 

We were excited for vacation,
All the vacation been put hold or cancelled, 
As coronavirus is spreading,
We are disappointed.

The school are closed, 
We should study online,
But we still want to study with friends physically in school,
Because of coronavirus, 
The world got worst.

  As you know, I try to write positive things in here, to make me feel happy and grateful. I won’t be able to do so today. There’s been a virus on the loose. It has caused a pandemic. I didn’t really think too much of it. Of course, I wear a mask everywhere I go, I sanitise and wash my hands regularly, I do what every other sane person would do. 

  My family also takes the necessary precautions and are healthy people. Then one of the scariest things happened about two weeks ago. My grandmother, who has diabetes, went to the hospital to get her blood checked and they found she had the virus. She was then admitted to the hospital for our safety and so she can get better sooner with the doctors on her side.

  My grandfather, who accompanied her, called everyone to tell us the news. I believe our reactions were somewhat similar, flabbergasted. My mum quickly suggested we do a video call. Since my grandfather – who was still in the hospital at the time – asked my uncle to send clothes over, so my uncle packed a laptop too so my grandma could use it.

   We spend about an hour talking to my grandmother, laughing. Three days later, the doctor told us her body was failing and she could barely breathe. She was painfully sick. About a week later, we all received a video call from her once again and were so glad. We talked and laughed and it seemed like she was going to make it. It seemed like she was going to survive, it seemed like everything was going to work out just fine. 

Until, the morning of 22^nd January 2021, when my family and I received the most heart breaking phone call in our lives. It was from the hospital my grandmother was staying at. The doctor had called my grandfather to tell him about the news. My grandfather called everyone to tell us the news. It was probably 11.00am at the time, I had just woken up and was about to go brush my teeth when my mum dropped her phone. I ran towards her and shock ran through my brain when I realised what had happened. 

  I couldn’t stop the tears from running down my eyes. I fell on my knees, weak and unable to get up. She was healthy just two days ago, she was smiling. I sat up and realised she was only faking it. She knew she wasn’t going to make it. It’s been about two months since that has happened, I’m still mourning her, missing her warm hugs and heavenly food, wishing she was still here with us. 

Jemima 

 

         2020 is called a cursed year, maybe 2021 can be more cursed than it, mainly because Covid-19 spread over the world in a drop of a hat. No one was expecting that, and everyone wasn’t ready for a pandemic. 

 

           Everyone got the similar effects while covid-19 spreading: Stay at home, social distance, wear a mask and of course, public areas like school, pubs and even restaurant need to be closed. These laws are successful and almost everyone obey it. 

 

           While we are waiting in our homes, starring at the wall, and praying for covid-19 to disappear, the scientists were in the battlefield, trying to make vaccine. They do researches and experiments on human bodies, and take references from SARS, although SARS and Covid-19 are like apples and oranges. 

 

           Covid-19 did not only bring negative effects. During the pandemic, the whole world’s carbon dioxide is decreased by 8% and human has a world record of fastest vaccine creation, as fast as in games. 

 

          Covid-19 has been here for more than a year, and human are doing something about it. Its ending very soon. I hope everyone will have a great day while in the pandemic.                                                

 Thursday

You know, this pandemic is not that bad. We get to stay in our sweet home and chill. I love sleeping and my bed, I’ll always lie on my bed and play video-games all day. My parents told me if I kept doing that, I’ll go blind one day. 

Well, there is online classes which is 10 times better than physical school, no more being socially awkward and having tiny anxiety attacks anymore. I could also just sit on my comfy chair in front of my computer and just listen. I could just mute and turn of my cam and just skip the class but no, I wanted to stay there with my microphone and camera turned off. 

 

Friday

Online school is not that boring, its just that why don’t the teacher just use Discord. It’s much easier, for me at least. Some of the teachers were so laggy that we can’t even hear teacher talking. 

There was a lot of technical issues happening, I didn’t bother helping since I didn’t even know what to do when teacher’s mic doesn’t turn on even though it was turned on. 

 

Saturday

I had my math tuition on 9am, violin class on 3.30pm and piano class on 4pm. Setting up for my violin and piano class was a pain, I needed to bring my laptop, microphone, my headset and a sound box, my father helped me set it up and it was fine. At least I get to be at class on time and not always late.

 

 

 

Monday

I’m starting to feel like I can just ditch class by not joining, I guess I could do that but I didn’t because I didn’t want to get called out and get scolded. We had homework to do so I decided to do it at night, it’s now a habit of mine to do homework late at night after dinner till 11pm. 

 

Tuesday

P.E class was tiring, we had to do silly activities. The P.E teacher even told us to turn on our camera while doing those activities, I’m surprised that the P.E teacher was this confident; I wished I have that much confidence in myself, a tiny bit would be fine too. I wonder, where I could find this kind of confidence.

 

Wednesday

I kept playing video-games until recess when my eyes started feeling heavy so I took a small nap and woke up just on time with no time to prepare for the next class. So, note to self: Do not take a nap when on any kind of break or else I’d be late for class. 

 

Thursday

After class, I practiced my violin and piano while chatting on Discord with my friend and I did not learn anything, I just gotten worse playing the violin and piano.

After that I drew for a few minutes and gave up so I just went and ate dinner.

 

Friday

I felt very sleepy today, maybe I’m sad: or maybe it’s just that I slept late. I couldn’t concentrate in class as I kept getting more and more tired. My mother told me to get up and walk around the house for a few minutes, I told her I couldn’t even get up from the tiredness.

I made an imaginary friend, how did I suddenly make on up, I had no idea. All I know is that he’s based on a character I recently saw, he’s probably forgotten by now, sitting somewhere in my mind and wandering around lonely and sad.

 

Friday

I feel like everyday I’m getting more and more tired, I’m afraid that I would be processing stuff as slow as a snail; I continued drawing in between classes to not get bored, I’m starting to take back what I said in the beginning. 

 

Sunday

Today I had my tuition online, it was alright. Some of the student’s internet was very unstable, we can’t hear them that well.

 

Monday

Online classes were alright it was a little boring but overall, it was alright. I drew during the most of the classes and played games during recess and lunch.

My parents scolded me for playing games while class was starting. After class I drew and also practiced my violin and piano.

 

 

March

Monday

We’re going back to school physically, I felt very sleepy when I was at school and I saw a lot of people. I guess we won’t be able to go back to year 6; After assembly we went back to our respected class room. There were more people in my class and everyone had to introduce themselves. 

I’m getting more and more tired as the classes go on and teacher gave us homework. I went home and did my homework for an hour; I was very tired so I went and played video games.

 

Tuesday

I guess Covid 19 is pretty bad huh. Well, I guess its going to be like this until who knows when at least I can play video games and stay indoors.

 

Covid-19 started at 25th january 2020 in malaysia.covid 19 common symptoms are fever,dry cough and tiredness.Less common symptoms are: aches and pains,sore throat,diarrhoea,conjunctivitis,headache,loss of taste or smell,a rash on skin,or discolouration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms:

difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

chest pain or pressure

loss of speech or movement.

 

If you get this covid 19,you have to stay home.Most people have illness and can recover at home.

For people that have mild disease,recovery time is about two weeks,while people with severe or critical disease recover within three or six weeks.

 

The higher risk of getting covid-19:older people(that is people over 60 years old(maybe will)and those with underlying medical conditions.The risk of severe disease gradually increases with age starting from around 40 years.

 

Under what conditions does covid-19 spread easily:Transmission can occur more easily in the “Three C’s”:

 

• Crowded places with many people nearby;

• Close-contact settings, especially where people have conversations very near each other;

• Confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

 

The risk of COVID-19 spreading is higher in places where these “3Cs” overlap.

 

I studied online starting from march 2020 to 8th march 2021.Clinics almost everyday get 200 -300 patients.All sports ,school and every outdoor activity has been banned.We have to wear our face mask when we go out.

 

By 10th April 2020,we have 4346 positive cases and 70 people deaths had been reported in malaysia.Mco might be extended further if the cases are not coming down.

 

My experience:I am bored of staying at home.

 

  It’s a Sunday, 11:30am, there is a new world order, the annihilators had returned to enslave the world with a covid-19 and rabies combination called the Apocalypse virus. Four demented ex- MedicMad employees , Aaron, Jackson, Karl and Brian, sit around  an abandoned warehouse.

 Jackson and Aaron both have mental deficiencies, with Aaron manically screaming spasmodically, “The va-ccine!”. Jackson is going lucid(,); continuously whispering the “songs” of yesteryear. Brian and Karl are wearing old gas masks, their faces going dark green as they get their daily dose of toxic gas.

 Brian and Karl get their gas masks and machetes and leave the warehouse. It is so quiet and peaceful; you could hear their footsteps fade away. There are many cracks on the roads and the air is filled with suffocating, poisonous gas.

 Brian and Karl need to find the 'zombified goo' in the zombie to create the vaccine for the apocalyptic virus. On their journey they fought a few other people who were hunting for food. They barely survived the fight and were forced to retreat.

 A while later, they noticed that a dozen zombies were running towards them. Brian thought that this was the time to get the goo and rushed towards them, but Karl immediately stopped him. ,"There are too many of them, we have to go. Now!".

 Brian had no choice, but to listen. They ran and ran as fast as  their legs could carry them  until they saw no zombies left. They were so exhausted, so they rested on the  shoulder of the road. Then they saw a zombie walking about. Since there was only one of them, they killed it and got the goo out of it.

 They were so thrilled and they returned to the warehouse. When they reached the warehouse they began making the vaccine. After a few hours, Brian shouted saying,”Finally! The vaccine is ready.” Brian administers  the vaccine to Aaron, Jackson, Karl and himself. 

After  receiving  the vaccine, Aaron and Jackson fell asleep with Karl and Brian keeping guard. Suddenly a box drops from one of the shelves, “Hey Brian” Karl says, “Go check that sound out”.

 At first Brian didn't see anything, but then a hand reached out from the window and grabbed him on the shoulder. “Karl! Help!”. As Karl sprints over to help Brian, he gets pinned down by a horde of zombies. Karl and Brian quickly glance at each other, knowing that their fates have been sealed.

 But then from out of nowhere, there was an agonizing screech, “yippee-ki-yay!”. As an armoured van smashes through the warehouse door,  crushing all of the zombies. Jackson pops his head out and he says “Sorry  that we  are late, boys... we brought backup”. And he had an extremely serious look on his face, with a tinge of an apologetic sideways glance.

Chief Inspector Peterson jumps out from the rear door of the van, “Gentlemen, we’ll take that vaccine from you now”.

Brian who is still wary of the government, shouts, “What the hell, Jackson?” “You cut a deal with these pigs?”.

Jackson smirks, “It’s time to save the world now”. “Pleasure doing business with you, Inspector Peterson”.

(Timelapse of 3 months)

  The world recovers after the vaccine is given to the remaining survivors.

Covid 19 is a very dangerous virus. It started at 2019 till now. There was many lockdowns and we werent allowed to go out but to stay at home for few weeks. We should stop COVID 19 by maintaining our social distanicing and putting our mask on when we are not eating nor we are talking with friends.  If u went overseas or somewhere far u should quarantine yourself for 14 days. Wash your hands or use sanitiser.  

 It wasn't a good year this year because my brother couldn't come back to Malaysia to celebrate his 18 Birthday this year but to stay at his lonely dorm alone. Many malls, stores, shops, schools and university was closed because many people got infected by COVID 19.

 

Another news came on, I became too annoyed so I switched off the television. I saw many people running away, going back to their hometowns. People even had to fight for toilet rolls. Suddenly, I heard sounds of the opening door. My mom had come home. She bought about 20 boxes of masks to have us prepared for this unknown disease, now with a name, COVID-19. I had to go back to the National Science Lab and work with others to create a vaccine for it.

 

Studies showed that it was from the Coronavirus family, a sibling of SARS, I guessed. All of us were working day and night to find ways to stop this pandemic: police officers were looking after people, doctor had to take the risk and treat the patients under the few layers of plasma suits, delivery men had to send food to people who are scared to go out. Of course, the public were very cooperative. Seeing that, it motivated me to work even harder to create the vaccine.

 

Finally, with all our cooperation, the vaccine for COVID-19 had finally been created. We injected it into the frontliners first. Then, it’ll be the Phase 2, people who have high risk such as old people and Phase 3, people above 18 years old. I felt like I was on cloud nine. During the time, I saw my friends collapsed because of the tiring work. My friends in the medical industry getting infected. After reflecting on all this memories, I thought that the hard work is worth it, even though we had to lose so much along the way.

The world was still in peace until February 2020, the Covid -19 started to kill millions in the US.No one cared during that period, because they thought was fake news,so they were not wearing masks and hanging around the city.The president,Donald Trump from the US thought it was a petty thing and it would go away one day.In China,the government built three new hospitals in two weeks for Covid-19 infections.The frontliners worked hard everyday,crying for hope,died when they were taking care of the patients.After fighting Covid-19 for 6 months,China began recovering fast because they did Covid-19 tests on every single person and people had no chance to leave their family gatherings.Some people didn’t die to Covid-19 but become starvation.

Today,the year 2021,everything has changed,people have been studying on online class;sitting in front of the screen for hours.Hurting everyone’s eyesight and many have lost money form the disease.After a lot of lives were killed, in my opinion Covid-19 happened because nature is trying to decrease the percentage of overpopulation on Earth:If there are no disasters or diseases ,the human population will increase until there is a lack of food, jobs, land, and a sense of humanity.Whether Covid-19 is a good or bad thing ,it depends on how different people see it.But in my opinion- Nature must take its course.

 

In December 2019, I finally decided to take it and I kidnapped someone to act my guinea pig. The person tried to attack me but it did not work, I was unharmed. It did not hurt at all. He continued the onslaught on me for the next 5 minutes and he figured that I was untouchable and he just gave up. After a few days of testing, I figured out all of my powers and what I was capable of. I can transmit a dangerous disease to others, take no damage from any attacks and control people.

 

I gave the victim a disease and it spread really quickly and soon the whole world was on lockdown. They called the disease COVID-19. People tried all sorts of measures to stop the disease, like making a vaccine. The victim that I released informed the police that I was the one who had started it.

 

Soon, the government made an alliance with every country and tried to stop me. So, I pretended to get caught, as I wanted to get everyone’s attention and control all of them. Thus, I went to the White House and stood there, revealing my identity. Soon, there were tons of people there and I controlled them and secretly gave them orders to serve me. From that day, I went to every country and used my mind to control everyone. Within 6 months, everyone was under my control. I now ruled the entire world.

 

That was the last survivor at the Wuhan biological weapons facility in China . Fast forward to a few weeks later, a special ops officer , Sergeant James,   had received orders to go to China . They will be stationed in Camp Humphreys , South Korea . From there they will be waiting for further orders from the president . William Kennedy ,sergeant James’ best friend, with his other squad members will be some of the front line forces to attack the deadly virus . 

At 11pm on the 30^th of  July ,the president has ordered the special forces team to evacuate a group of scientists that had developed a vaccine to wiped off deadly virus , the coronavirus or COVID19 . At 12pm , the special forces squad was airlifted by 2 black hawks with AH-64 apache by the 120 soar .During the flight , James shouted out ,” This will be the most important mission we will be assigned to , so no mistakes . I hope everyone returns home safely .”

As they were about to land , they put on their night vision goggles and zip lined down the black hawk . As James led the team into the facility , he had an uneasy feeling about the smoking corridors beside them . James told the light machine gunner ,John Bold, to secure the corridor . Soon they found the lab the scientists were in . One of his squad members was attacked by the grotesque creature .James shouted ,” kill the hideous thing !!! “ William said ,” I’ll go with John to find the scientist “James and his squad held off hordes of inhuman creatures but they were low on ammunition and more inhuman creature was pouring in .

 

Soon , James was faced with a big problem some of his members were overwhelmed by the creatures and William haden’t come out . He had to make a decision ,either to continue to hold off the creatures until they were all overwhelmed or to leave William and the scientist behind and never get hold of a vaccine to the deadly virus and millions will die . At the last second , William came out and James quickly shouted ,” Lets go “ James squad fought furiously against the forces, to gain an exit out of the facility .

 

As they reached the exit , the two black hawks were reinforced with a chinook and a few AH-64 apache to get us out of there . Soon an air support flattened the facility .William whispered to James ,”we survived all that  ,we should get a reward ,isn’t that right ?” James replied ,” you are absolutely right” . A few months  later , the world started rebuilding from  the apocalypse .

It’s a deadly virus

Also name COVID-19

Made in 2019

How I feel

To not get ill

 

MCO is here

Nothing to fear

But...

Online Class 

I wish it passed

There was so much to do

Trust me it is true

Oh, how I wish

To eat an outside dish

Day by day

We all just say

There are many cases

From different races

 

Frowns in air 

Nothing to spare

City in shutdown

Everyone is down

This will be in history

One of the worst viruses the world has seen

 

It is scary

Everyone is unhappy

Somehow, we all wish

To live

Peacefully

      Because of the Covid-19 virus, all of the countries need to do their best just to find the vaccine. While the doctors are doing their jobs, the police are also doing their best to make sure everyone follows the rules of SOP and make sure no one crosses the state borders and of course, making sure that everyone wears a mask. 

       Thanks to the frontlines, not just because they help the countries. Is because they sacrifice their life to keep the people in the countries safe and healthy.

         Thanks to the frontlines, they do their best just to make the world better. Let’s hope the frontlines will have a great life forever.  

The virus outside was busy killing,

The people who got the virus cell

were all sick ... as if they were in hell.

 

I looked out through the window, still on my bed,

Saw people walking without even being scared,

Everyone was 3 meters away from each other,

Making the whole world unusual,

Although today presents a light blue sky,

People’s spirits don’t seem high.

However I felt ... happy and gay,

As I play games everyday,

I wish this virus will live on,

For I don’t want to take the exam!

Secondly, Covid-19 is caused by infection of severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. The virus that causes Covid-19, infects people from all age’s groups. We should reduce food such as fatty meats, butter, full-fat dairy products, palm oil and coconut oil. Physical distancing
helps to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Finally, after so long they found Covid-19 vaccine but Covid-19 vaccine is only for adults. It means those under18 years old children are not covered. Covid-19 vaccine can have side effects; some people complained of mild pain at injection area,
and feel achy or feverish for a couple of days.

All of us have gone through a lot  during
Covid-19 pandemic. I hope this pandemic will end
soon and let's hope for everyone to recover soon.

The Economy and social disruption are at risk of falling.During the Covid-19 outbreak,ancilliary business chooses to work for those weak business to avoid loss.Many workers from the workplace are forced to quit their jobs due to lack of customers wanting to buy the products and lead the company ro bankcruptcy.Many people had lost their income and without earning an income during lockdown ,they are unable to fed themselves and their families 

‘Health care workers….”hearing the words,I wanted to share my thoughts on them.During the lockdown,health care workers are called as “superheroes”.The doctors,nurses,medical assistants should be able to overcome the fears ,pain,suffering of getting affected by the Covid-19.When the patients are affected by the Covid-19,health care workers must be their strength and comfort the patients and their families.

During the pandemic,we all had to go trough the challenging part of our life — lockdown.Everyone forced to be quarantined at home due to emergency issues,we are recommended to use the face mask to protect people around us.When you’re out ,we have to avoid crowded places and keep the greatest possible distance from other people for at least 1 meter.

As an international student,its been very challenging for me to study for my upcoming exams,we’re not allowed to go to school or even tuition.All of us are having online classes at home to learn lessons from teachers.I’ve learn to be a successful distance learner,since I wont be able to physically go to class as I can take part in class from the comfort of my house.I’ve also learnt of self-discipline because the school teachers won’t constantly be there to remind you of project deadline.Studying online classes for me,I think there’s disadvantage too.Since we are forced to sit in front of the computer for so long ,it causes us headache,neck pain and swollen eyes.

“Nothing in life is to be feared ,it is only to be understood .Now is the time to understand more,so that we may fear less”-Marie Curie

[386 words]

Dear diary,

Four more minutes until this year ends. 2020- the year we imagined the world to be filled with flying cars, virtual worlds and all sorts of cool, futuristic stuff ended up being an unprecedented catastrophe. The human race has been under an attack from a tiny microscopic virus, and two million lives have perished, as sudden as a candle being blown out. 'Poof,' and they're all gone. 

2020 came down hard on all of us, but for me, it was something so appalling, so monstrous, so unanticipated that it almost felt like a dream. Deep inside, I knew it wasn't, but again, I wished it was. 

In October, I was one of those 'lucky ones' who was chosen to serve at Sungai Buloh Hospital. I would never forget the night I broke the news to my family. I could sense my parents' blood run cold over the phone call. My wife's usually bright and shining eyes now displayed distress. She came into the room and shut the door firmly behind her while I was packing my bags and bit on her lips as she sat down on the bed. Sitting down beside her, I pulled her into my arms and gently caressed her cheeks. Her troubled face twisted together with pain and she finally broke down. All this time she had been trying to hold her tears in front of our daughter, but now she was sobbing uncontrollably. 'I'll be fine, I promise,' my voice was shaking. 

She shook her head. 'Why you?' she sobbed, 'I know I'm being selfish, but I don't want you to go...' her voice trailed off into the dark, empty night. 

The next morning, I stood at my front door, my bags at my feet. My parents had come to say goodbye. Everyone looked grim and solemn, except for my three-year-old who was totally oblivious to what was happening. 'Don't look so serious,' I joked, 'You guys look like you are attending a funeral,' I laughed. But none of them did. My mum squeezed me so tightly that I almost suffocated, my dad gave me a pat on the shoulder followed by a sigh, and my wife gave me a tender kiss on the cheeks. But my heart never throbbed like it did when my daughter ran up to me and as I picked her up, held my face in her chubby hands and whispered 'I love you daddy' in my ear. 

I hadn't seen any of them for three months now, and although I talk to them on my phone every day, nothing could beat seeing them in person. The weariness of my body from the 16-hour shifts never numbed my longing to meet them. I had never hated myself so much when my daughter was feverish but I couldn't rush home and comfort her; I feel so useless when I hear my wife's weary voice over the phone every day. With me at the frontline fighting the disease, she has to run the whole household on her own, and I could only imagine how lonely she felt when everyone would shed crocodile tears for me but avoid her at all costs because 'her husband is working at a COVID-19 hospital'. 

The clock just struck 12.00. Colourful firecrackers shot up into the skies, lighting them a bright neon colour. The new year has come. Yet the fight against the virus continues. The future might look bleak but we are determined and we will play our part to make 2021 a better year. 

Edward

Buoyant birds and rustling leaves.
Out of the window where they lie.
Genuine parlous news left astray.

 
As the corporate world go phut.
As lives of innocent humanity shatter into pieces.
Through the weakened bodies it made bed ridden.

They still leave the mortal world.
Leaving their families devastated and dejected.
Leaving them without an adieu.

 

Pondering of how it would be, with no food to eat.
How an iota of scoff could be cherished and treasured.
How it is like starving in a famine.
Oh, how hard it is to ponder of it.

 
Pondering of how it is in those bulky suits.
Perspiring and wheezing trinkets or maybe buckets too.

Risking their lives keeping humanity safe.
Leaving their loved ones astray.

 

Pondering if it didn’t happen,
would it be the same?
Within these four walls of white,
where all these thoughts come alive.