The plus sign on the test gradually appeared on the pee stick. Since COVID, I’d gotten used to positive tests being two parallel lines. There was a sophistication to the process RATs. The challenge to see how far the swab would go into the nose before hitting resistance. The way the test fluid flowed up the strip like an ominous little river. I’d had many positive RATs.

My dad got custody of all the friends in the divorce. Most people might turn to religion or a walking group. My mother turned to Fox News and 4Chan and found comfort in conspiracy. She vowed to never vaccinate me again. She covered the windows in foil to keep the rays out and became shut ins. Public school was an indoctrination. The 5G phones were snapped and discarded.

Then with the COVID era came the fear of germs, another invisible monster to accompany all of her others.

My only escape to the outside world was the weekly grocery shopping, but that came with a cost. Decontamination was required each time. I’d be handed a RAT with the deadbolt still in. A hand would snake out with a temperature gun.

Clothes off at the door and washed immediately. Scrub in the shower until my skin was red and raw.

-the narrator meets a boy that works at the grocery store

-eventually rebels and starts sneaking out to be with him

-Discovers she’s pregnant and not only is that not ideal for obvious reasons, but will also reveal to her mother that she’s been going outside