Before We Begin, A Note
As it will likely become apparent from the moment you begin reading this little tale, it is a work of fiction: any similarities to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental, with perhaps the exception of a former United States President who is alluded to, or the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse for that matter, if you believe they exist. The similarity to actual events is not purely coincidental; unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic is an all too real event that humanity has been subjected to for more than two years now.
It will also likely become apparent—or, at least I hope it will—that this little story is an exercise in silliness. This silliness isn’t to make light of the pandemic, those people who have fallen ill, and certainly, those who have lost their lives.
At the time of writing (and by the time this is published, this number will have increased), the pandemic has cost a grand total of 6,361,661 lives. Despite all the work that was done to protect people, including lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccinations, to this day, more than a thousand people are still losing their lives to this virus every single day.
As you read this story, I hope it becomes apparent that it isn’t making light of those 6,361,661 lives lost so far. Instead, I dedicate it to those 6,361,661 unfortunate souls. Lives taken too soon, many of whom were taken by the inaction of the people around them, whether it be their governments moving too slowly or their neighbours not taking the necessary precautions.
The world has reopened and society is living large in this “post-pandemic” society. But we’re not out of the woods yet; we still live in a mid-pandemic society that our governments opened up to keep our economies ticking along. Because at the end of the day, the people we elected have determined which losses are acceptable. People are dying at an alarming rate: in the brief time it has taken me to write this introduction of just 380 words, a further seventeen deaths have been attributed to the virus: the death toll now stands at 6,361,678.
Stay safe; keep those you love safe. Please.
TTFN,
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