Quarantine Blues

“Ellie.”

There was a knock on her door. It was Tobias, down the hall neighbor. He was a very active member of student affairs and the head of their student block and her late-night-joint buddy.

“Our counselors are calling us down in the hall for an emergency meeting.” He said calmly. “There were some new emergency measures put into place this morning.” He paused for a second. “It’s bad.”

“When?” She asked with little to no emotion in her voice.

“In 15 minutes. Be there!” he said with a serious tone and closed the door.

“Dammit.” She thought to herself realizing that she had not even brushed her teeth this morning. Or even last night. After the news broke about the first reported case in the city and the government ordered a strict lock-down, she hardly even managed to drag herself into her dorm room where her roommate Linda was frantically packing up her belongings. After Linda said goodbye, Ellie was unable to move from her bed. Frozen in panic she slept lightly that night, waking up every few hours in cold sweats.

She grabbed her toiletry bag and towel and entered the dorm hallway. Usually loud and lively hallway felt empty and sad. She walked towards the showers past silent doors. Silence felt so deep. Even the exam season never felt so quiet. She entered the showers and occupied the last sink in the row. She grabbed her toothbrush and as she was squeezing on some toothpaste she heard a flush.

Out the stall came Jacqueline - the bright, and slightly self-absorbed med student.

“Did you hear about today’s meeting?” She asked while squeezing abnormal amount of soap on her palm. “They are going to close the dorms,” she said, rubbing the soap between her palms just like goody-two-shoes doctor to be would. “Not for me of course,” she said quite smugly. “I was asked by the minister of health himself, to join the emergency team in the hospital...”

“I bet she wasn’t.” Taught Ellie to herself. “I bet the ministry only send out an email.” Jacqueline could be quite self-absorbed at times. Especially since she switched studies from law to med. Coming from wealth, it was all about the status for her. That is why she did not like her too much. Ellie couldn’t stand people who thought themselves to be better than others.

“... fighting this virus in the first lines. We truly are the heroes of this pandemic.” She said that more to herself than to Ellie, while scrubbing her palms in a slight tact of Happy birthday tune. “And the government approved that WE can still stay in the dorms. You see, in times like these you can really tell WHO the most valued people are.” Finally, she opened the water and started rinsing her perfectly soaped hands.

“Mhm...” murmured Ellie, purposely brushing her teeth frantically, so she wouldn’t have to actually talk to Jacqueline.

“Well," after she didn't get the respond that she wanted, "see you in fifteen!” Jacqueline almost sang to Ellie while leaving the bathroom.

“The dorms will CLOSE!” Jacqueline’s words just hit her, and Ellie almost chocked on the toothpaste. “They can’t close the dorms.” Her heart started racing again. “Where is SHE supposed to go?” She could not catch her breath, so she spat out the toothpaste and grabbed on the sink trying to calm herself down. “Breathe, Ellie. Breathe.”

Somehow, she pulled herself together, washed her face and put some moisturizer on. Skincare routine always calmed her down a little bit. Still, she could feel her heart beating hard and fast in her chest.

“Everything will be OK, Ellie.” Up until now it always was.