Page 20 - Everyone a Writer Anthology 2021

The Look Of Lockdown

What does lockdown mean to you? It could mean the loss of a loved one or strengthened bonds
between family and friends. Or you could just be a pessimist who uses it as an excuse to complain.
For me it shows the sheer vulnerability and integrity of our species all at once. People laughed and
people cried. People carried on while others stopped. People got too much work and others struggled
due to the lack of work. Shops slowly faded out of our high streets, but flourished on the internet.
While industries suffered, nature thrived.

World War 2 was the bloodiest conflict in history, but Covid-19 is a conflict within the people
themselves. You might be able to watch war, but you cannot see a war ravaging inside of a human.
People wore gas masks due to fears of gas bombs, but we wear masks because we’re scared of a
virus. People scrambled for intel on how they could win the war, but we scrambled for intel on what
this virus does and how quickly we can stop it.

2020 was the year when we saw the world crumble apart and then the people of it had to rebuild it
as best they could. People constantly debate what we should do next and whether normal is wanted
anymore. No matter your stance or situation the strangeness of the last year and as we begin to
sprint towards the previously never-ending horizon we can only think “What comes next?”

Jack Grayson, Y8
Meadowhead

The world has stopped. Today we stand united as one. We are all in our own cages together. Going
nowhere. We are nearly through this but now we will fight it in our homes, our minds and hearts.
Placing ourselves in self-imposed exile where we stop and stand still as the world panics around us. But
others have it quite different—the health care rushes around trying to cope as its structure warps and
crumbles, but everyone helps hold it strong as those who ran to help. And now we will pull through
together, as one force, to be able go back to normality. If those we call unfit run to their aid when it
needs our help the most then so can we. Just a few more months of exile, even when you have nothing
to do, extremely bored—just remember its saving lives. And remember those who we clapped for only
months ago, the NHS saving lives directly in the firing line. We can do the same by staying inside going
nowhere. In our own small world of exile because soon we will be hand in hand once more.
Soon the world will move again.

Matthew Gregory, Y8
Meadowhead

20