Socially Distanced: A Quarantine Novella

“I think…I think they’re releasing us.”

As we walk into the hall, an intercom system instructs us to take the elevators to the lobby level and gather near the reception desk. Though the elevator is empty when we first get on, it stops at other floors, and we are joined by more dazed, confused people with pale skin and frightened eyes. We all look at each other, and none of us knows what to say.

When we reach the lobby, health care workers in their scrubs approach us without gloves or masks. A man in a suit walks up and greets us all. We are told the cure for carriers worked. We’re told we can go home.

“That’s it?” a woman next to me says. “That’s all you have to say to us? ‘You’re cured, so go home’?”

“Your sacrifice will be remembered.”

Kendra squeezes my hand, and we follow the crowd to the reception area. We’re given new identification cards with a bright yellow heart in the corner—a symbol of our new, healthy status. Each person is given an envelope with a prepaid debit card and a metro pass.

I wait off to the side while Kendra is given her envelope. A woman near the doorway is giving people instructions to a shelter, if needed. Another worker talks about job opportunities to help rebuild the city.

I just stare, barely understanding what the words mean anymore.

Kendra approaches me, shaking her head as she stares at the contents of her envelope.

“It’s really happening,” she says. “I mean, I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“I don’t think so.” I shake my head. It feels like it’s full of cobwebs.

A man in his mid-thirties with long, disheveled hair approaches us, his eyes narrowed a little. He pauses, then grins.

“Oh, hey! I know you guys!”

“You do?” I look him over, wondering if he might have worked for the cell company, but then I realize he said “you guys” as if he meant both me and Kendra. “I’m not sure how you could.”

“Yeah, it’s definitely you.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

“You were in the pod right below me.” He grins widely. “I’ve been enjoying the show.”

My eyes bug out, and my mouth drops open. He just laughs.

“Glad we could entertain you.” Kendra smiles seductively as she wraps her fingers around my elbow.

“Seriously, listening to you two is the only thing that got me through the past few weeks. Sorry for being such a voyeur, but I honestly appreciated it.”

I can’t reply. Kendra says something else to him, but I don’t hear a word of it. He grins at me again, salutes, and then walks toward the woman giving instructions to find the shelters.

“You did not like that, did you?” Kendra snickers a little, then places a soft kiss on my cheek.

“Not really.”

“Think of it as a public service,” she says. “We may very well have saved his life.”

I frown and glare at her.

“You saved mine,” she says quietly as her expression softens. “I think I might have thrown myself right off of that balcony if it hadn’t been for you.”

“I thought about that a few times before you showed up,” I tell her. “When you first”—I stop and glance around, making sure no one can hear us—“when you first came in and…and hugged me, it felt like my heart finally started beating again. I mean, beating with purpose…like, it didn’t really have one before you were there, and…and…shit, I suck at this.”

Kendra smiles, reaches up, and places a quick kiss on my lips.

“I think I understand,” she says. “I felt the same way.”

We look through our envelopes and compare. Between the two of us, we’ve been given enough money to get started again. At least, I think it is. We take a couple of pamphlets about jobs and housing before we head outside into the bright summer day.