The Pandemic

I sneezed in the bank and people around me started acting weird. I wondered what was wrong, but forgot about it almost immediately, facing my business.

On my way back, I stopped to check on my cousin who just had a baby. While there, I sneezed again and the next thing I knew the baby was snatched from my hand with such speed. Mouth agape, I asked, "What is the issue?"

I felt uncomfortable after a while and got up to leave. The money I brought for the baby was rejected. In fact, her mother suggested, "Make a bank transfer instead. It's safer." I felt that was rude but I couldn't say or d anything.

"But why are people reacting this way to my sneezing?" I wondered. but let it slide.

I'd just come back from a meeting in Abuja where we met with some Chinese people to discuss our new business idea. It's going to be a hit! It's new and fresh. I'm so excited! We were to go to China, my boss and I, but they offered to come instead to study the terrain and it was fine by us. Funds were not readily available for the trip. The excitement of the new project overrides everything else. 

I reply to chats when I'm free, the same applies to watching TV. I could go days without doing any. It has put me in bad light with people but, what can I do? It works for me.

"They'll be alright," I concluded.

Going through the pictures of the meeting I posted days before.

"Something new cooking," I'd captioned it.

I sneeze as I walked into the house and everyone looks at me strangely.

I lost it this time around. 

"What's with you people and someone sneezing? Is it a crime? Can't someone sneeze in peace?" I retorted.

So my brother spoke up.

"You may have caught the virus."

"What virus?" I asked, cutting in. it's just catarrh. it is normal na.

Then they began to tell me about the "Corona Virus," its origin, the extent of its reach in the past weeks, the devastating effect on those affected...

My post!! No wonder my cousin snatched her baby, the immediate cleaning he got. That upset me at first because I'd covered my mouth. Now I understand. I understand her anxiety... 

She'd waited many years for this baby.

I broke into a sweat. I'm not sure if I peed on myself, but everything was suddenly wet. My palms, my feet. Jesus!  I nearly passed out in fear!

I found the nearest thing to a seat and sat down first. Many thoughts running through my mind.

How did I miss this news? If only we had known, the meeting with them in Abuja wouldn't have taken place. We would have moved it or had it online. I need to contact my boss ASAP! 

He was already very sick when I called. his wife answered the call and informed me. 

"He is going into isolation and we are all going to get tested immediately"

I knew I was in deep shit. I am very sensitive and prone to such infections. everyone else may get away with it, but me? 

If daddy had heard about the Corona Virus before my travelling for the meeting, he would have stopped me. 

Reading about the dangers I may be in, I tried to do a headcount of the number of people I came in contact with. The torture was killing me!

I could die... how would Daddy take it? He has lost three kids and a wife, just two of us left.

What if they get infected? Our whole family could be wiped off.

The sneezing, the tightness in my chest.

I looked at Daddy and saw fear in his eyes. Fear he was struggling to hide from my brother and me. Fear of losing yet another child, or even two.

Lord JESUS, what have I done!!! We don't even have the facility to combat it here.

"What next?" I asked, my eyes roaming.

They sprang into action.

My brother Mark quickly cleaned and sterilised my room, then the whole house. He pushed my bed close to the door so they could talk with me. An opening was made on my door to pass food and daily necessities.

I was going to be quarantined and they were going to self isolate from the public for fourteen days.

I was crying when they sealed my room from outside. I heard Daddy say to me, "don't be scared Marcy, I'm just outside your door."

"Okay, daddy," I answered in fear.