Who is the magician that has cast death spells from pillar to post? Who is to be blamed for the millions of lives that were captured forever? Who is the murderer on a vicious killing spree? These can all be credited to the Coronavirus Family: COVID-19, and its siblings, Delta and Omicron.

The exponential growth in victims to the virus has taken the world by storm, and has obliged leaders to find a resolution at breakneck speed; a hasty decision is sure to receive criticism.

Dear Coronavirus Family,

Why have you arrived at each nation’s doorsteps as an innocent and then caused mayhem in every state, city, and house? You are unlike any monster or any devil; we watched you imprison many lives and couldn’t do anything about it.

The reason why millions of people were kicked to the curb, why everyone isn’t given access to medical attention, and families can’t see their loved ones in their last breaths, is because you came and obtained more power and control over the people.

I need to know what you have achieved by closing schools; by not letting students get their right to education. Today, millions of Americans cannot risk going to school – they have to make a choice between education and their health.

Those who can go to school just see the masked faces of friends and teachers around every corner. This protection is necessary for doing our part in keeping you away — and while it’s not optimal, even teenagers are willing to step up and defend their “normal life”. However, we, as children, are still hearing tales of your siblings, Omicron and Delta, kidnapping students and teachers one by one from our school system. What motive is compelling you to change our lifestyle, and our future.

The question on everybody’s mind is when will you stop. Look at the mourning children as they remember their loved ones leaving to the hospital and not returning; is that not enough to convince you that this must end.

Alas, you have brought truth to our eyes, and we can no longer hide behind the curtain of America’s perfection. You have compelled us to take action which no longer depends on right or wrong but on life or death. We, as a country, must admit that we were underprepared for the chaos you were planning.

I must thank you for bringing light to our flaws. Yes, America is not perfect; it’s not all blue skies, green grass and happy people. Even while being a leading economic country, we are lacking enough money to support our citizens.

We thought of you as yet another visitor who will leave in a few months. We were lazy in taking action when you first stepped through the door to enter America. Now, hospitals are facing a lack of equipment and cures to fight you and your siblings, but their courage, persistence, and hope will not let you succeed in taking over the world.

Day-in and day-out, these doctors and nurses are stopping at nothing to save even one life. They are sacrificing their life, sleep and tears in tracking you down and ending your killing spree.

If anything, we have better learned to adapt to our circumstances.

The year 2020 began with a boom of COVID cases, confiscating 385,455 lives in the USA alone, according to CDC data. The medical field worked with the media and scientists and mathematicians alike to develop a vaccine — you, COVID-19, managed to bring us together.

And there, we realized our true potential as a nation and put forth the first vaccine for approval to help our citizens. Then, your relatives intruded upon our land, each variant taking jabs at our people at the same time. Still, our current COVID deaths rally around 23,601 people; more than 15 times less.

In 1920, your ancestors tried in the same effort as you are; they were taking out people by the millions. We persevered, and have come out on top. You may be winning right now, but the tables will turn, and humanity will continue.

Avni Kabra is a student at East Lyme High School.

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