Rajasee Hamal
Antidote found! Congratulationsand thanks, Nepalese Government!
I still remember that day when I was tested positive for coronavirus. I was shocked, I was mad, and I wanted to run away from this world. Among all my family members, I was the one who tested positive. I felt like it was the end of this world and all my dreams and hopes had broken shattered into a thousand pieces. Days just passed by watching the empty walls of my isolation room like a prisoner. But I used to smile sometimes and say out loud to myself: “Doesn’t matter if I am dead at least my family is alive and safe. I don’t know why I was being so stupid, probably the side effects of complete loneliness.
One day, I was transferred to a new room. It was a memorable day for me because that was the day I met Alison. She was a happy-go-lucky girl. We then introduced ourselves to each other. I then politely asked her why she was transferred to our room. She told me there were no beds in the other wards. We got along so fast that I started sharing my feelings with her. I told her that I wanted to live but don’t think will be able to as there was no cure. She was very optimistic and encouraged me “Not all people die from the virus, there are people who have survived it as well. I am in my last stage but I still have hopes to live. Don’t ever feel hopeless.” I was really inspired by her, and I decided to beat the virus and live my life.
Days passed, I was spending my time with my wonderful friend, Alison. One day as we were talking, she requested me to convey her message to her family members after she was gone. Her message was very touching; “Although I will no longer be in this world, I will always love you all.” I cried the whole night wishing whatever she said would never be true. We all know “Whom the Gods love die young, especially Alison.” Last Saturday night, she whispered to me in a very feeble voice and requested to relay her message to her family. I promised that I would relay her message and I wished her a good night.
The next morning I found out those were her last words to me because she would never wake up ever again. I kept calling her name but to no avail. I stopped near her bed and looked at her face and at that moment, my heart fell right into my stomach as I saw her body lie still and lifeless. I cried and sat next to her until they took her body away. That evening I was all alone again. Moments later a nurse came and gave me a necklace and a paper Alison had left it for me. When I met her for the first time, she had the same necklace on. I wonder how she knew that I had actually loved her necklace; probably she was very observant and thoughtful. It was written “To my best friend in quarantine,” on a piece of paper and that note made her my best friend for life
Now I am watching people celebrating a cure for covid19. Once I am cured, I shall be celebrating with my family but without Alison, the girl who gave me hope for life. I sometimes wonder maybe I would have given up hope and died if it was not for Alison’s word that showed me a light in the dark tunnel. I am happy, I am alive and nothing feels better than this. All thanks to my best friend in quarantine. I truly cherish every moment I have spent with her.
[Rajasee Hamal is a student of grade nine at Sanskriti School, Thuli Bharyang, Kathmandu.]