Love in the Time of Covid
Early in the pandemic, the university locked its doors and switched to online learning. Then our entire city locked down.
Within days, most of the students living in tiny apartments in our glorified rooming house returned to their family homes. A Belarusian student on a temporary visa and I were soon rattling around an almost deserted house. With self-isolation, we seldom saw each other.
After writing my exams, I focused on my twin passions: computer game development and climate change. I developed a strategy game where the hero challenges the opponents of climate change action.
In July, I reached the beta testing stage, but the prototype only worked on my computer. I sanitized everything, obtained facemasks, established two-metre distancing, and invited the one remaining student to test my game.
An hour later, she removed the virtual reality headset and turned toward me.
“Did you win?” I asked.
“I battled endless enemies while vanquishing none. I survived, and somehow, I made your life quality index better than it was when I started.” She glanced at her phone. “Six thirty, and I’m famished. Can we go somewhere for dinner?”
“Out? I thought the pandemic closed everything.”
She laughed. “You’re so out of touch.”
“Gone nowhere for months.”
“Things have eased up, and I know a vegetarian restaurant—quiet, outdoor patio, small tables, well-spaced, safe.”
“Why didn’t you go home after the university went online?” she asked as we strolled toward the restaurant.
“Alone, estranged from my family,” I said before pointing at our apartment house. “That’s as close as I get to a home. What about you?”
“Can’t leave. One more term, and I’ll have my degree. If I go home now, and travel restrictions prevent my return in September, I’ll lose everything.”
I felt this strange urge to put my arms around her. “Been hard, hasn’t it?”
She wiped away a tear. “Yeah, like really. I’m not a loner like you. I need family and companionship.”
To hell with social distancing, I thought as I grabbed her hand and pulled her into an embrace.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleIn a time when everything seems to be on hold, your story moves us on. Yes we all adapt as in your story. Well done.
Thanks for the encouraging comment. We need to adapt, but safely. This story was inspired in part by a statement from a senior health officer in Canada who, in response to a question about university student partying, suggested, I hope facetiously, that student partying sex was okay provided the participants kept their face masks on.
Naughty, after all that quarantine, or maybe they had both really self-isolated. One of our soaps has been putting invisible sheets of glass between people who they want to embrace on screen. Everything does move on like your protagonist’s life.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleNot really naughty, at least not in Canada. Two weeks ago our country’s Chief Officer for Health told daters to wear a mask during intercourse to protect themselves from covid. Should work even better for a little hug.
This is a lovely story, Alan. It really highlights how different personalities cope in their own way during periods of isolation. It must be so much more difficult for those with outgoing personalities who need to be with others to flourish. Great story, beautifully told.
Thanks for the glowing praise. I’ve noticed how some people in our local writing group have managed fine with remote meeting via zoom, while others really crave the in person meetings. I suspect that’s pretty much the same everywhere.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleVery touching story and many international students stuck abroad can relate to your story. I hope everyone gets warm embrace in this time of crisis.
We have a lot of foreign students in Canadian universities and getting stuck in Canada and not able to return home, or stuck at home and not able to return here for their next semester is a serious concern for many of them.
Lovely story. It kind of relates to my current academic state. I was supposed to graduate high-school this June. However, the world took a wrong turn and I’m currently writing my main exams. Unfortunately, I have to stay one year till I get into Hunter University next year. Well done!
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks for the comments and good luck with your exams. I truly hope the millions of people whose activities have been sidetracked by this virus can get back on the road to wherever it is they want to go. I guess that’s what I was imagining the characters in my story doing.
Cheers,
Great story. Brings to life what social animals we humans are and when it comes to affairs of the heart, there’s really nothing that can stop us from acting upon those feelings. Also a wonderful choice of picture for the story.
Thanks for the encouraging comments. I downloaded the image from Unsplash, a great site.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleLove story. I felt the emotion. You catch my heart. Well done.
Thanks for the positive reaction. Of the stories I’ve written for this site, this is my favourite.
Such a sweet story! We really need those moments of happiness and love during these tough times.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks for the encouraging comments. We’re almost COVID free where I’m living, but the pandemic still puts a damper on everyone’s activities.