On Easter, I saw my family for the first time in a month. It only took a month of not seeing my little cousins or my precious great grandma for me to feel like my life was falling apart. Granted, when I did see them, it was from the driveway, and we were six feet apart. I cried a lot that day. I realized then that life really was different, at least for a little while. And then I got mad because seeing them felt so right and normal, but I wasn’t even allowed to hug them because of an invisible virus.

And for that simple reason, that this virus is invisible and feels unreal, I am writing this. Because the fact of the matter is that not all of us are doctors. We are not Dr. Fauci. We don’t know everything there is to know about the biology behind this virus or the medicine and vaccines it takes to cure it. No one does. Yet. 

So in this unprecedented, terrifying time, it is of the utmost importance that we follow guidelines from the highest health officials and practice social distancing. I know it is hard for us to believe and practice things that haven’t hit us close to home, but if we go against what is being suggested, it might end up hitting all of us in some way. 

I have been cooped up in my house for far too long for others to be careless with their interactions and possibly increase the exponential growth of this ugly virus. And, yes, I know I don’t have the virus. I know I am healthy and safe and OK. I know it’s not necessarily my place to complain because of these reasons. 

But this is for the people that are not OK. This is for the people who are at high risk of infection and cannot see their family. This is for the ones who are completely alone during this time and feel like they have absolutely no one. 

As of the beginning of this week, the CDC has reported over 1 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States. I know this isn’t even a whole single percentage of the American population, but it’s one-third of the way there. And exponential functions grow like forest fires. 

All of this is to say that if we do not follow health guidelines, maintain our six feet, wear masks and go out only when absolutely necessary, the coronavirus is going to take way too many of us. And I don’t think any of us really want that. 

The time we are living through is so scary. I have genuinely never been more frightened. I’m supposed to start my senior year in two months, but I don’t think I will walk the halls of SHS or sit in the classrooms of some of my favorite teachers any time soon. I was supposed to spend my whole summer with my best friend who I haven’t seen in nine months, and now I won’t.

I am sad. I cry often. But, it’s OK. It’s okay if everyone else does too, because at least we are being safe. At least we are social distancing and staying as healthy as we can. We don’t know much about this virus, but we know the guidelines. I urge everyone to please follow them as best they can.