Page 17 - Everyone a Writer Anthology 2021

The city that Alex once knew seems like a stranger to him. His favorite bar seemed lifeless. The streets
looking lonely. He couldn’t remember how many times he wished that the center wasn’t so crowded,
yet now he scans the deserted pavements praying to see one person. Traffic lights that used to
infinitely glow red now shine an endless green. Ice cream parlors that used to be bustling with
exuberant children now appear undesired and dejected. The world had locked away like innocent
prisoners fighting for their freedom by staying isolated.

He screams into the distance, not able to contain his indignation. Alex felt trapped and soulless, not
holding any control over the situation. He stopped to take in what the world had come to. Looking
down, masks lay dispersed on the sidewalk, giving evidence of past life. He needed some security, he
needed his family, he needed love. Lockdown had taken everything he needed away from him. Alex
came to the realization that this was not a short-term dilemma. This could be for life. He knew before
that this was a serious matter, but he never came to terms with how long it was going to last. A single
tear slips down his cheek, landing delicately on the concrete floor. He had so many questions, yet so
little answers. What did we do to deserve this? What are we being punished for? Why us? The world
had stopped. Simply stopped, and the only way we could help was to do nothing at all.

Nicole Evison, Y9
Meadowhead

Silence. Silence. Everything had stopped. The world had changed forever. Before, we could go out and
about our day, have fun and meet friends and family. Within a flicker of an eye, everything had been
stopped. It was a deadly disease. It had hit our globe. A deadly disease. Children stopped receiving their
education, you had to work from home when possible and all holidays had been postponed. People were
stuck at home. Everyone sat at home shaking like a leaf, petrified and worried of their loved ones getting
the Virus, you could only get out for 1 hour. Hospital overwhelmed by patients- like a rocket, deaths
ascended every day.
Freedom seemed far away. Rainbows became the only bright side, used to congratulate the NHS. Every
Thursday, we would step outside to clap for them. It was relieving to see the friendly faces. Keyworkers
had to work endlessly without a single break. People were panic buying everything on the shelves. Sir
Tom Moore raised money for the NHS.
The restrictions may have been lifted by now if the government had acted sooner, and people actually
followed the rules. Now, we are stuck in this for an extremely long time. Nothing to do. No places to go.
This is Covid life. This is Covid life.

Zoe Woodley, Y7
Meadowhead

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