Fight or Flight

Be optimistic, instead of saying a glass half empty look at it as a glass half full and instead of
saying COVID-19, use it as a Compass to Overcome your fear to reach Victory and Improve
with Delight.

“Tick...Tok... Tick... Tok...” says the hands of the clock. The wind was cold, the sun was
hiding, it was still dark and I saw myself gasping for air while holding my chest. Sweats are running
down from my forehead and with a parch throat, words came out of my mouth, “Thank God it was
just a nightmare!” Everything was fine back then, until I opened my cell phone and saw the first
ever local transmission of Corona Virus here in our country, the Philippines, and from that moment,
I knew from the back of my brain that the long battle against Corona Virus has begun.

Fear, uneasiness, and anxiety. These are the things that I was feeling in that particular time.
I checked my notifications, “Class suspension, March 09, 2020. Please wait for further
announcement.” Even our School was adjusting because of this Pandemic. My heart was throbbing
like crazy. I immediately ran downstairs, straight to our television, and I saw my Mom looking at me
from my peripheral vision, she seemed worried. As soon as I opened the television, the news about
Corona Virus suddenly emerged. All the television channels were broadcasting about it; everyone
was updated, it was trending even on Twitter. The only thing that is on my mind was the safety of
my family, my friends, and all the people, experiencing this pandemic first hand. I still remember
the time when my fear gets out of hand, I was crying in our bathroom, while the water from our
shower was touching my skin, I was asking God the same question over-and-over again. “When will
it ever stop?” I said. I can’t help but reminisce the time before the pandemic. Everything was okay
before; everything was in its own place and now from four infected cases, to ninety-eight positive
patients, until it reached forty-thousand. I was shocked at that time; it never crossed my mind that
something like that would happen. I was really upset, anxious, and depressed knowing that there
are people, dying from hunger, disease, and lack of personal needs. Until my Mom came to me,
leaving me a simple advice, fight. To fight for myself, and for those people who believes me. “Fight
or Flight.” She jokingly said. I laughed awkwardly, and as I looked at her, I saw the brightest smile in
the world coming from her, and I know from that moment, that I’m safe, I’m loved and there’s hope
not just for me but also for the next generation that is on the line.

Yes, I used to believe, that my story will soon come to an end, but look at me. I am fighting
and I will continue to fight. Corona virus is just a disease, but we are a child of God, and with that
alone, we are ahead of this pandemic. So to those who are reading this, yes! You are allowed to
scream, you’re allowed to cry, but do not give up. One day you will thank yourself for not giving-up
and surviving this pandemic. We are given this life because we are strong enough to live it. My only
advice is to keep fighting. Let us fight as one, and win as one.