As night fell, things quickly got a lot worse. The darkness made everything seem more intense. The problems I faced only grew larger and more overwhelming. The calm of the evening turned into chaos, and I could feel the situation slipping further from my control. The hours that followed brought even more trouble, making it clear that the night was going to be difficult to get through.The news on TV kept flashing through my mind. At the same time, I was hearing my friend’s voice on FaceTime, calling because of her fight with her boyfriend. Suddenly, I heard a sound I would never forget—a scream that felt inhuman. It was coming from his roommate, attacking him violently. His girlfriend, Danielle, was begging the police to help. Through the phone, I could hear a growl that didn’t sound normal. Then I heard Dustin Reynolds screaming as his roommate was ripping flesh off his body. The whole scene was terrifying and unforgettable. I turned on my TV and saw the CDC logo appear on the screen. It said "please stand by." This was different. It was an emergency update, which was unusual for the CDC to broadcast to the public. Normally, they do not give emergency briefings like this.
Thank you for attending this emergency meeting. We have done some research on the new virus and need to share important information. The virus, which has spread across Ed Columbia, has been collected for study. Scientists working with us examined its properties. At first, we thought it was similar to the flu and mainly threatened the weak and vulnerable. However, early research shows it is more like the Ebola virus. Ebola belongs to the filoviridae family, which includes viruses like Ebola and Marburg. Based on our recent studies of Ebola, we can say this new virus is not exactly Ebola but a distant relative. It likely fits into the group known as filoviruses. We have named this virus plaxesvirus.
Because of its similarities to Ebola, we believe Columbia and nearby areas must be quarantined right away. To keep the virus contained, a full military blockade will be necessary. Once we are sure the quarantine perimeter is secure, teams of medical and research workers will be sent in. They will help infected people and collect more samples to learn about this virus better. Members of Congress have been informed and will soon start preparing the actions needed. The president is being kept updated throughout this process.
When I saw that message pop up and the screen suddenly went black, I immediately knew something was very wrong. There was a clear sign that things were not normal. My instincts told me this was no ordinary glitch. The sudden change made it obvious I needed to pay close attention. Something about that moment felt off, and I could tell everything was out of place.It feels like everything I care about is slipping away because of this virus. It seemed like an unavoidable thing that was out of our control. The more I see how it spreads, the more I feel helpless. It’s like a wave crashing down, taking away the moments I cherish most. No matter how much I wish it were different, this virus doesn’t seem to care. It’s causing pain and loss that I can't stop. It’s hard to accept that some things are just beyond our reach now.