So we told them to stay home

Our enemies are invisible, almost invincible. There weren’t much we could do, only to persuade, and dissuade. To convince and advise - “Stay home!” We fear their lives, we worry their fate. What happens if they head out and get attacked? We wouldn’t know if they are injured, we aren’t notify with gory spills of bloods or a broken limb hanging; only with constricted air vessels and suffocated airways two weeks down the road. It was horrible - horrendous. We fear the enemy, we fear the effects, we fear the crumble of society, and we fear; for the safety of those we love. So we told them the causes, the symptoms, the preventive measures. So we told them it’s okay to be dejected when prospective events and plans are cancelled, for we can replace them with fun itinerary everyday. So we told them, to keep their distance, and stay home.

Our enemies are invisible, almost invincible. They float in the air, they exist in water. They are silent, they come without a notice. They infiltrate among us, disguising like one of us, before slowly exposing their identities in five to fourteen days no less. The young are less harmed - the enemies are not strong enough to defeat the metabolism. The young consider the enemies a normal flu, they ignored the dangers it pose to our elders. The elders - alas! They are poisoned, by the malevolence of the enemy. It hates us, dispersing its wrath for we consumed their counterparts. It is furious; for we meddled with the Gods we should have respected - the Gods of Nature, Gaia, our home. So it took it to us, providing nil for us to fall back to. No vaccines, no treatments; the enemy still has its last laugh. It watches us struggle, flattening a curve to no avail, for it knows - “Humans! Selfish and greedy - stubborn creatures!” So we told them, tirelessly, to keep their distance and stay home.

Our enemies are invisible, almost invincible. They keep us lockdown, by force, relentless of our daily routines. Highways blocked, transits stopped, countries closed. Businesses shut down, homes locked, only essentials. We lament, we complain, we grumble; “I have plans to fly to Maldives next week!”, “I want to go home for the festivities!” Yet we obeyed. We know it’s for the best - so we stayed put. We know there’s more to regret if we do not listen, so we did. We watched the numbers at home, we were afraid; what if, the enemy has infiltrated? We were worried of the dangers, we finally listen. We recuperated, rejuvenated. We made up for the lack of familial time, we finally return to those we love. We prayed for those fighting, we hope for the numbers to drop, day by day. We watched, businesses affected, daily wages unpaid. We were worried, but we listened. We knew, it was for the best. So we told them, repeatedly, to keep their distance and stay home.

Our enemies were invisible, almost invincible; but we were optimistic. We were passionate to help the country. We took it upon ourselves. Designers sew masks and protective layers. We wanted to protect the soldiers who protect us - because while they protect the world, we defend them. We listened, and scrubbed and sanitised whenever we return from stocking up supplies. We donated to causes, we cooked for the less fortunate. We drove the elders to get their medical supplies, we provided extra bottles for the deliveries. We set up home offices, we established online classrooms. The country was secretly progressing faster than we had expected - for humans adapt. Once, we despised the ABCs on keyboards, defiant against lessons and courses - but now we learn. We seek to improve, to feed the family, to thirst for knowledge. We may have been slow before this, but the crisis kept us stronger. It was tough for the enemy, it had no where else to go. So we told them, continuously, to keep their distance and stay home.

Our enemies were invisible, almost invincible - almost. We are almost there. We prayed, and heroes appeared. They worked the clock, day and night. Mindlessly battling, sacrificing time just so we can make it. They care, they worry, they love. They taught us, again and again, to love and love, and continue loving. They taught us, that benevolence is too small a word to describe their gifts for mankind. We thank them - for they make it possible. They reunite families, they ensure we are fed, they made sure we are healed. They worked around the clock, our heroes, oh yes they do. They do as they can, to bring the numbers down, to dwindle the digits, and to wave goodbye with a smile to those salvage from the destruction of the enemy. We wanted to help our heroes, so we told ourselves to keep our distance and stay home.

-This essay won 8th place in the Airlangga Flatten the Curve Competition (Essay Category) in the year 2020. It is a piece written by Gan Xiao Tian, addressing the optimism spread by the heroes of our nation as we combat the Covid-19 hand in hand.