Curtis Johnson Poet Narrative

Fiction And Non Fiction

I vividly remember the store I had just entered.
As I was busy looking for items that were running short,
a call came from a friend enquiring about our well-being.
I immediately said, "I feel I'm in the twilight zone".

Although the moment was not the Twilight Zone, it was a pure
and frustrating reality and the closest to Hollywood fiction
I had ever experienced. It was not a dream but a very real
nightmare with eyes wide open. It was not April Fool, but the
early days of coronavirus COVID-19. Wear masks, get vaccinated,
maximize staying home; minimize mobility.

The store shelves were rapidly emptying of vital products.
The toilet paper was 'premium and bottled water was golden'.
'Yeast' was the one item I found most difficult to acquire.
Forced to be inside, what could be better than 'baking'?

Despite all the mystery and the misery. Despite being
forced to do unusual and uncommon things. Despite many
not being able to visit their sometimes-dying loved ones;
what I took away most from the 'like The Twilight Zone
experience' was not the greed and carelessness of my fellow
human being. But rather, I was enriched by the loving,
caring, and sharing of everyday people and the selfless
acts of the medical workers.

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Daniel Henry Rodgers March 28, 2024 at 7:37 AM Hello Curtis, your narrative encapsulates the surreal reality of living through the pandemic, where the lines between fiction and non-fiction blur. Humanity's resilience shines through in the chaos of empty shelves and uncertain times. I loved your reflection on the kindness and selflessness of ordinary people and medical workers amidst the turmoil. It is the power of compassion in the face of adversity. - Blessings, Daniel