Too Soon
She elbows the latch of her garden gate, passes through, and pushes her back against it, closing off the world outside. Only then does she allow herself a large intake of breath, filling her lungs with air that is hers.
“Do come,” they had said, “It’ll be alright. Things are opening up now, and you can’t stay in for ever. We can keep well apart, so meet you there?”
Earlier this morning, she stretched her new mask in place well before the bus arrived, making her feel so hot that she was broiling inside it by the time she got on. Very few passengers fortunately, but who knew what could be lurking on the seats? As the bus slowed down towards her stop, she staggered to the front, lurching forward rather than using any handles to steady herself. A squirt of gel from her bag hardly seemed sufficient to expunge the ride from her mind, though two soapy renditions of Happy Birthday might have helped.
It wasn’t easy to keep their distance round the small café table, so they didn’t really. They drank from glasses and ate from plates that gloved hands had held. There was much chatter, more reminscent of a school reunion than a get together after just 5 months apart. She felt distracted and found it hard to concentrate on what was being said, so made her excuses as soon as she could. Let them carry on with their plans for what they might do and the people they could now see. For her, it was all too soon.
Her anxiety over matters she hadn’t been able to control was so profound that she found herself shaking, so she walked back home, despite the distance, giving a wider than necessary berth to anyone she passed.
Now, she feels her state of panic subside as she crosses her garden, fumbles with her bunch of keys, and grasps the doorknob. On the other side of the door, silence, enrapturing in its power, as she strips off her excursion with her clothes, and steps into her lockdown life again.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA detailed portrait of life under COVID that rings true all the way through. The writer carefully shows us everything we’d never really thought about pre-COVID—a simple lunch date with friends, a bus ride, passing people on the street—as a dangerous, sometimes terrifying journey. Here home is the only safe place, and that’s its new definition. When we’re through with all this and my grandchildren ask me, “what was it like during… Read more »
Thank you for the review of my story. This month I think we have all been reminded that the journey out of the home is now proving problematic for today’s grandchildren. School children are back, but it isn’t back to normal, and this week has thrown up additional problems of students in my country, and particularly in the neighbouring country of Scotland, being quarantined in their hundreds in college rooms, and finding… Read more »
Very well written, Susan, and echoing what I imagine are the thoughts of many as restrictions are eased. You have described her emotions really well; I felt as though I was in her shoes and couldn’t wait to get back to the other side of that door. Well done!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you. I am back in her shoes and behind that door – no socialising allowed in my county from today.
Oh! How we all face things differently, how we all share the pain of isolation differently. Let’s hope in sharing your thoughts with others, it eases your situation; that’s what writing can do in times like this.
Yes it is easy to get obsessed. I am not really very like her in attitude, but all the inroads made recently into seeing friends and family have gone into reverse with new restrictions.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with Google”A squirt of gel from her bag hardly seemed sufficient to expunge the ride from her mind, though two soapy renditions of Happy Birthday might have helped.”
What a fabulous sentence.
The whole story flows well. Great job. Enjoyed reading this one. Thank you.
Thank you. Can’t say I’ve been on a bus myself since February or before, though they run around empty round here. I see you are in Switzerland. Is there a 2 Happy Birthday hands washing equivalent there?
Here in the USA, we were all taught to count to twenty slowly while washing our hands, or as you said, to sing Happy Birthday twice. Even still, I didn’t even “get” the soapy renditions of Happy Birthday reference until just now, reading your response to Jay. A great story always has something new in it!!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleSo real that every single person can relate to your story. This is exactly how we feel these days when we step out of our homes.
Thank you. We are all having to keep our homes and gardens entirely to ourselves in my area this week, and what happens ‘here’ this week will be ‘there’ next week no doubt.
Great story…I loved the sentence about the soapy rendition – very creative. Corona and lockdown is bringing a whole new jargon in our lives.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleToday’s catchphrase is Tipping Point but I think I know which way it is going to tip.
Congratulations!
Thank you. Nice to wake up to.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWell done Susan, fully deserved placing. You should be feeling lifted now. I’m happy for you.
Thank you so much, Eric. Pleased with that.
Very well done Susan.
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Congratulations on your story, Susan. It clearly shows not only the physical, but also the emotional impact of the virus.
Emotions change as it goes on and on and I think that is reflected in the different attitudes to lockdown restrictions
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleAh! This story expresses the truth about COVID-19 for me. My parents keep forcing me to leave the house but I honestly hate doing that. You captured excellently how many people feel while leaving their houses. To me, this story represented the truth about the lockdown. The line about singing ‘Happy Birthday’ while washing your hands makes it all the more realistic and joyful for the reader. 🙂
I suppose they feel you can’t stay in for ever. It is the point when the mask has to come on that makes me feel like going back home.
Wow, very well written, Susan.A true-life story about these days of the pandemic.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks. I gather there are people who have stayed at home for almost a year now
You’re welcome.