What Might Happen

Chapter One

Introduction

''This is the diary of a pre-teen-to-teenaged person of undetermined (or undisclosed) pronouns as of the beginning. Please refer to them with they/them until otherwise told.''

''This was written after every other entry you will find in the diary. In fact, it is written by someone else entirely, after the death of the original writer. It is simply to explain that it is the writing of a middle to high school student with no formal training, who only wished to record their thoughts and experiences, and become a voice for the now-voiceless. It may not be the most well-written, but it provides an inhumane disaster with the very human face of a child in a bad situation.''

And that’s what people need to understand the pandemic.

That said, let’s move on.

''It seems no one knows how they truly care about others until they’re in imminent danger of losing them. But by then, it’s often too late.''

The writer of this diary was no different.

This story begins with a young person who thinks they have all the time in the world.

They are wrong.

Wednesday, November 27

''The year is 2019. I have just turned twelve. This is the start of the rumors and whispers that don't seem likely to end anytime soon.''

''There are people wearing masks. There are people discussing the supposed new and deadly dangerous virus from China. There is a sense of panic in the gym during P.E. as my classmates gossip with each other as always. I am not entirely sure what's going on, because I don't keep up with the news. But it seems bad.''

''I'm writing this entry during my Algebra class, hiding the pages every time the teacher looks my way. What I'm doing right now sure seems completely with the rules.''

A young woman gazes out at the sea as wave after foamy white wave crashes against the shore. She thinks of all she has lost, watching the sunset from her chair on the front porch and remembering the person who isn’t with her, and never will be again. The person who will never see another sunset like this one.

The person she will never see again.

A single tear pearls in the woman’s eye, followed rapidly by several more, and she looks away quickly, trying to blink away her memories and wash away the sorrows that accompany them far from her heart, where they live as a constant cluster.

I won’t cry I won’t cry I won’t cry.

“I miss you so much,” Delicia whispers into the wind.

Then she turns and walks back inside.

Monday, February 17

''The year is 2020. Online school started a while ago, but I’ve been busy so I haven’t recorded it in here until now. And I guess I was inwardly hoping it would end soon, and I never would have to write it down.''

''Maybe I was hoping to forget. Maybe I was hoping for innocence. Whatever the case, it’s too late now.''

''I don’t know, perhaps I’m being too dramatic… but everything that’s happened has taken its toll. Even though I haven’t been affected as much as some.''

I’m not the happy person I used to be, no matter how hard I try.

''Today is the first day of school for the week. I can’t help but think how lucky I am that I can still attend school. No matter how much the rest of my life has been ruined, I have this one constant, at least. I’m lucky that I have a computer. That I have internet. That I can still learn during this time.''

I imagine what it would be like to not be able to go to school, and no matter how much I say my classes annoy me, I can’t imagine life without them.

So, it could be worse.

Some people are unable to afford a computer, I know.

But being the selfish person I am, I complain about what I don't have, instead of appreciate what I do have.

Maybe my first goal during this pandemic should be being more understanding and caring, instead of just criticizing and grumpy.

That's a good goal.

"Delicia."

"It's Deli," she corrects automatically, without looking up. She can almost hear the other person smiling.

"Fine. Deli."

"Yeah? What do you want?" She looks up when he doesn't respond, and he instantly squashes the smile.

"... Nothing. It's nothing."

"Then don't bother me, {placeholder}, not all of us have time to waste."

Immediately she hears the echoes of a voice from long ago. "I should've known better than to think I had all the time in the world... Delicia, you never know what might happen, so don't hold back. Don't be an idiot, like I was, although I guess I don't even have to tell you because you would never be an idiot..."

Deli sucks in a sharp breath. ''Be real. Maybe that's why you don't like to be called Delicia.''

No. No. It was because she hated the name and preferred Deli and there was no other reason absolutely not -

"Deli?" {placeholder} asks, sounding concerned.