Lockdown Letter #4

To whomever may find this.

I’ve lost count of how many days we have been in lockdown, and how many days I have been a prisoner in my own home.

You probably have no idea what I am talking about, so let me explain...

Pretty much the whole world is in lockdown, due to an uncontrollable virus which is killing thousands of innocent people. We have all been told we need to stay in doors to try and prevent the spread. Imagine empty streets, imagine no cars on the roads, imagine opening the kitchen cupboards to find hardly any food. People are going crazy, panic buying food and supplies. Mum coming back from a shopping trip in floods of tears as her bags are empty. There is only so many times a day you can keep eating toast.

My school is closed. My mum’s work-place has shut. Our beautiful, cozy small living room has now become an office, classroom, and even a dance studio. The love and laughter slowly being drowned out and replaced with stress, tears and anxiety. Being in lockdown with my mum should be the greatest gift however, the reality of a stressful job and school day, with constant deadlines can make tensions run high. I am struggling with certain subjects and my mum is so upset and stressed that she can’t dedicate her time to helping me. Now we feel like we are both falling.

Furlough. A word that no one had ever heard of before this global pandemic, but has become a term that is used almost on a daily basis. At this moment in time, employees are fearful about having their wages reduced, meaning that they may struggle to support their families and keep a roof above their heads. Some people have been saying you should be lucky to be paid to sit on the sofa and watch TV all day. But not everyone has the luxurys of having spare money in their bank accounts. These times are tough.

Regardless of the stress, numerous anxiety attacks, constant tears and panic, this house will always be my happy place, my home. This virus will not break us. We still have our laughs and giggles, endless cuddles and movie days at the weekends and most of all the greatest mother-daughter bond anyone could ever wish for. We are lucky we have each other, as some others aren’t as lucky and are going through isolation all alone.

Coronavirus (COVID19) please just disappear and leave us all alone.