There is one moment in in time that I seem to be unable to forget, no matter how hard I try. It seemed like any other morning until I came down the stairs and heard a loud sobbing sound. This was the first time I have experienced someone’s death from Covid-19. This was also is the first time in my life that I had seen my father cry and that image seems to be burned into my brain. My father is a large manly man, 6’2” 250 pounds, with a beard and air of seriousness about him. Like any child, I have always thought my father was impossible to hurt. He was Dad the provider, overseer, and protector. I remember looking shocked to see him slumped over in agony crying. It was then I heard him say into the phone, “John is dead!” That is when I understood what happened. To be brief, John was my father’s high school teacher, coach, mentor, and best friend. Their friendship span over 40 years and he was Uncle John to me. It seems like overnight, our world had changed, no more Friday night dinners, movies together, and laughing at John’s jokes.

This pandemic has paralyzed us all in fear, and I am afraid to see my grandparents so as not to make them sick, so I stay alone in my room, and see the world from behind a mask. I miss the hugs and kisses and good food we had at our family’s celebrations and seeing everyone’s smile.

I think we have all experienced this feeling or know someone who has suffered the effects of the tragedy of losing someone dear. I think the cruelest part of Covid-19 was having people die alone in the hospital. Death is part of life but not to be there next to them and to say good-bye and then being forced to attend a funeral by zoom does not provide the necessary closure in the grieving process. I pray for Covid-19 to end soon and for our world to heal.