The Outside World

I wait eagerly in line holding my mother's hand, staring at the smooth white floor. 

"Next please" The doctor calls out

It was our turn to be tested. My dad volunteers to go first. I watch as the doctor in a white suit sticks a needle in my dad's arm and transfers the blood to a vial. After a few minutes, they tell him that he is safe from the disease. Next was my mother. They drew her blood and after a short amount of time, they told her she was safe as well.

Then, it was my turn. The doctor stabs a needle in my arm and it hurt more than I thought it would, but I try not to show it. I wait anxiously for the results because I knew what would happen if I had the disease. Soon, the doctor receives the results. Hesitantly, he stares into my dad's eyes and says in a monotone voice "I am so sorry, but your daughter has the virus, we must quarantine her in the hospital" 

Before my parents have any time to respond, a group of people with face masks and gloves takes me away from my parents. They reach out trying to grab me back, but they can't reach me. "Mom!" I yell, reaching for her hand "Dad!" I wiggle around and try to free myself from their grasp but it wouldn't work. The adults in face masks had more strength compared to a 10-year-old girl. I watched as my parents screamed my name. That was the last time I ever saw them.

I woke up in my bed, drenched with sweat, breathing heavily. It takes me some time to figure out my surroundings after that vivid flashback. I get out of the bed and walk across the cold tile floor to the bathroom. After I finish brushing my teeth and taking a shower, I approach the wooden table in the middle of my small room. I sit down, waiting for my food to be delivered to me by a person in a yellow hazmat suit.

While I'm waiting, a thought comes to my mind. I wonder what is today's date. It could be March or September. It could be summer or winter. 

All I know is that I'm here because of an outbreak of a deadly disease. I don't remember much because it happened so long ago. I do, however, remember that it is highly contagious. Once they found out that I had the disease, they took me to a room for me to be quarantined for the rest of my life. The disease is said to mess with your mind and your ability to function but it does not seem to have many effects on me. I can think properly, I think, and I can move around properly as well. Anyways, I feel embarrassed of myself for thinking about the date because I know that it doesn't matter what the date is. It doesn't matter because I know that in exactly 3 minutes, I would get my cold, disgusting oatmeal that has been served as breakfast. I know how I would spend the rest of today and I know how I will spend every single day for the rest of my life. I know that I would never be able to see my family or my friends. I know that I am done living like this. If it weren't for this annoying disease, I would be in the outside world, living the life I have always wanted.

When I first arrived here, I overheard a few people talking about immunity, and how after a certain amount of time, the person who has the disease will become immune to it. Ever since then, I wondered if I had become immune to it. I didn't seem to have any of the symptoms anyways. But I had to know for sure that I do have the virus.

So, when the person in the yellow hazmat suit enters my room, I sneak out and lock the door, trapping the person inside. Luckily, it's soundproof, so no matter how much they scream, no one will hear them. I take a look to see if anyone was around and fortunately, there was not a single person in sight. I take a deep breath and I'm stunned as to how fresh the air smells. And the hallway is so vast and big, it makes me feel small.

I look around and I see a sign with room numbers printed on it. It shows me where to go. I needed to find a place to test myself so I think I have to go to room 302, the testing room. I take a left and I see room 298, room 300, room 301, and finally, room 302. I look inside and there seems to be nobody around. I go inside to find a big, black computer and I turn it on. In a few moments, the brightness of the screen fills the dark room.

At the top of the screen, I see the date. June 29, 2042. This means that it has been 5 years since I was taken away from my parents. It means that I have spent 5 years in a small room in a hospital locked away from the rest of the world. Then, I see a table with needles and other tools. I also find a piece of paper that explains how to test someone. I follow the steps and soon, I get the results on the computer. I take a deep breath and I read the results.

I don't have the disease.

I don't have the disease.

For some reason, I keep reading the whole report over and over because I can't believe this. I don't have the disease. If the results are true, I don't have to spend the rest of my life in a small room. I can go outside. Into the real world. I might be able to find my parents. I walk out of the room and I see a door leading to the outside world. I look outside through the glass on the door and I can see everything. I can see grass, and flowers, and the sun. I realize how much I have wanted to go outside. I twist the iron handle and push the door open. I take a step onto the concrete and soon, I approach the grass. I take one step onto the green grass and it feels so heavenly. I could feel the warm rays of sunshine hitting my face and skin. I close my eyes to embrace the outside world. The air is fresh and clean. The noise of the trees swaying to the wind calms me. I know instantly that this is where I belong.