Curiosity Killed The Cat

     i. March 10th, 2020. Spring break. I was eight.

 “Mommy, what’s Covid?” I asked curiously.

“Oh, sweetie, that’s nothing to worry about.” She replied.

“But mom, the kids at school were talking about it,”

“Why were third graders talking about the coronavirus?” My mother muttered. She didn’t think I heard her, but I still remember her exact words.

She began to explain, promising it would never hurt us.

     ii. March 16th, 2020. 2,079 days ago. School day. 

“Mom, why can’t we go back to school? Spring break is over. It’s Monday,” I asked, confused.

“We can’t go back until it’s safe,” She replied, exhausted. 

“Why isn’t it safe?” I persisted.

“You know I’m sick, I can’t get Covid,” she said, looking at me with her tired eyes.

“Will the cancer go away soon?”

Her gaze faltered, but only for a moment.

     iii. I didn’t go back to school for 371 days after that.