The Balcony Amitie

“The virus filled the news. People died everyday around the world, and while that happened everyday anyways, the numbers were increasing. I am Amelia, I live in Paris, it is 2020, and the world is in a pandemic.

Thanks to this virus, my school has been canceled, I have been stuck at home for a month, and I cannot see anyone except my family. However, there is an exception to that. I live in a small apartment with my dad and my little brother, Andre. My brother and dad share a room, but since I am the only girl, I get my own room, and that room has a balcony. Right before the outbreak, someone moved into the apartment next door. He was in my English class before schools closed. His name is Chase McClarren. Honestly, I think he might be my new best friend. Me and him sit on our own balcony, that are right next to each other, and talk for hours. Neither of us have anything else to do since both of our parents are essential workers and are gone all day. Dad says it is his duty as a citizen of Paris to go to his job as a Grocery Store Worker. Chase says his parents say the exact same thing, even though they just moved here from Ireland. When I talk to Chase, we never run out of things to say and I am glad he moved there, otherwise I would spend all day on my phone or watching Tv.

Chase looks like the basic thought you have when you think of an Irish teenage boy. He has the ginger hair, freckles, and green eyes. Even though he has never stood up next to me, he still calls me short. I mean, obviously he is taller than me, but how would he know if I am short or not? We cannot even be within six feet of each other. He even helps me with the English, which is not my strongest subject, and I have helped him understand some of the concepts in our photography class. Even though some of it is hard for him to understand he, like me, is in love with photography. We have the same camera and have even done mini photoshoots of each other across the balconies. We have not shown them to each other yet because were still editing but I cannot wait to show him. Even though I am not a pro at photography, I try. I have been in love with the art since I was seven years old. I just want to have my work shown to people someday.”

I closed my diary. I filled it with my experiences from the past day but wrote as if it was a new person that I just met that did not know anything about me. I found it to be healing in a way. It helped me to get things off my chest and looking over the past pages helped me with current experiences. I loved the book. I got it from my mom before she got sick a few years back. Before she passed, she made me promise to write how I felt in it, so I never had to bottle up my emotions.

I looked over at the French doors leading to the balcony and saw how pretty the clouds outside were. I grabbed my camera and went out onto the balcony. I started snapping pictures and heard a laugh that I recognized very well.

“Hi, Chase,” I said with my camera still to my face.

“How’d you know?” he questioned like he did not already know the answer.

“Because you’re the only voice except for my family’s that I’ve heard in weeks. I’d recognize it anywhere at this point.”

“And to think a month ago we were strangers.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of crazy to be honest. Like I wonder what would’ve happened if I had never come out on this balcony that day.”

“Oh, I would’ve started a conversation out here another day. I spent most of my time out here beforehand, now it’s just not as boring.” he said with a goofy grin on his face.

“Either way, I’m glad it happened. If it had not, I would spend all day on my phone, and I wouldn’t have made such a good friend.”

“Hey! Guess what?” Chase shouted, his face lighting up. “What?”

“My parents said that less deaths are happening, and less people are catching the virus so it might be slowing down!”

“Or it could just be the calm before the storm.”

“Amelia, you’re always quite the pessimist. Lighten up a little. The world is a happy place, sometimes.”

“Yeah but if you underestimate the world, you could be pleasantly surprised instead of let down.”

“Whatever you say,” he said rolling his eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, Leprechaun boy.”

“Whatever macaron girl.”

“I told you, I didn’t mean to type that in the class chat! I meant to say microwave, but I was hungry.”

“Well, after all of this is over, I’ll buy you some of those fancy little cookies, deal?”

“Deal!” I said, laughing.

“Wait, wait, wait! Hold that pose, it would make a great photo.”

I stayed still until he spoke again.

“Ok, that was a great shot, you’ll love it,” he expressed. “If I ever see it,” I teased.

“You’ll see it, in due time.”

“You say that every time.”

“Consistency, macaron girl, consistency.”

I laughed until I looked over at him. He looked upset.

“What’s wrong, Chase?”

“Nothing, I’m fine, why?” he said plastering a smile across his face.

“Chase. I know you well enough to know that you are not fine.”

As soon as I said that the fake smile went away.

“I’m just worried about my parents. My dad is a doctor and my mom is a nurse so they’re so close to the sick people I’m nervous they’ll get sick too.”

“Aw, Chase, it’ll be ok. They make all the essential workers wear so much protective gear. I’m sure they won’t get sick.”

Just then I heard a loud clang from inside my apartment. I jumped up.

“Be right back!” I said as I ran inside through my room into the kitchen.

Once I got inside, I saw my brother on the ground, rubbing his head. “Andre! What happened?”

“Well I couldn’t reach the cereal, so I tried to climb up the counter to get it but then I fell, and that pot hit my head,” he said starting to cry.

“Hey, hey, hey, its ok.” I said kneeling down to help him up. For being five he is incredibly light, so I picked him up, “I have someone you might like to meet.”

I dried his tears and carried him outside. I sat him down in our little deck chair.

“Andre, this is my friend Chase. Chase, this is my brother Andre.” I said to introduce them.

“Well hi, Andre.” Chase said, smiling at him warmly.

“Hi, mister.” Andre said. I rolled my eyes. Dad taught this kid too well.

“You can call me Chase, buddy.”

“Oh ok. Hi Chase.”

“Hi. Have you been enjoying your time stuck at home?”

“No, it’s boring.”

“That’s very true.”

“Yeah.”

I looked at the clock on my phone.

“Andre! It’s past time for your online class call.” I said beckoning him inside.

“Aw man. I hoped you forgot!” he whined. "Well too bad.” I said still beckoning.

“Fine. Bye Mister Chase.”

“Bye, buddy.” Chase said, waving as Andre left.

“Sorry about that I just thought he could use some extra human interaction.”

“Oh, it’s all good. He’s a cute little kid.”

“And he’s a pain in the butt.”

“But you still love him of course.”

“Well, true.” It went quiet for a split second.

“So, when are we going to swap the pictures, we’ve taken of each other this past month?” Chase questioned.

“Hmm…” I said, thinking about how long it would be until I finished editing them, “How about tomorrow?”

“Wow, I didn’t think you’d want to do that this soon, considering you’ve been procrastinating this for the past two weeks.”

“Well I had a change of heart.” He was right, I had been refusing to show him the pictures, mainly because I do not want him to be let down by them. They look good, but I cannot spontaneously do what he does and just randomly tell people to hold a pose. I just do not want to seem pushy. I know if I said it would bossy, but when he does it, it just sounds calming.

“So, first thing tomorrow?” he inquired, making sure I meant it.

“Sure, sounds great.”

“Well then, I’m going to go finish editing them so they’re ready,” he got up and started to pick up his things. “Alrighty, I need to do that too,” I picked up my phone and camera.

“See you tomorrow?” he still must not have believed me.

“See you then,” and I meant it.