Covid knocked on my door unannounced one ordinary Sunday afternoon during toonai. I recognised him by his unkempt afro and a Chinese fu-manchu moustache. He wore a black sweatshirt and baggy worn out gray pants. He sat on my leather recliner and reluctantly kept me company, while the rest of Samoa went about its business.

I naively thought that he would leave the next morning but like unwanted guests often do, he stubbornly overstayed his welcome. Each day, Covid would spew negative thoughts that robbed my voice and depleted my energy. He intentionally wrapped me up in a dusty, damp blanket, drawing out my life force while suffocating every breath I took. 

He bombarded me with questions and remarks, to which I tenaciously refused to answer. “What are you crying about?” Do you know what I am capable of if you dare betray me? I rule the world. Do you know how many lives I’ve taken? Families I’ve destroyed and children I’ve made into orphans with just the snap of my fingers? Never underestimate the fear and terror I can instill in mankind. MUHAHAHA!”

Eventually Covid became  bored with tormenting me and decided to look out new victims. That’s when he went after my parents. The laughter and security my parents provided in our home infuriated Covid. He wanted tragedy to dominantly engulf our lives. Consumed by revenge and contemptuously filled with jealousy, Covid stole my father’s sense of humour and held my mother’s appetite hostage. In a blink of an eye, he disrupted the only existence of life I knew. I was desperate to help, but Covid handcuffed my hands behind my back. He was freakishly strong and I was too weak, too young to fight back. 

Shortly after, Covid’s ally, Depression came for a visit. I knew if I continued to do nothing, Death would be next on my doorstep. Then with all my inner strength, I finally found my voice and called out for Health. Surprisingly, she was not far away. All this time, she was just down the road, her eyes filled with vigor and hope. Health led us to her companion, refuge and healing. Airy rooms, clean linen, comfy beds, soft welcoming colors on the wall and best of all fresh, hot meals. She wore a gentle loving expression, a warm touch of encouragement, but most importantly she had all the answers we needed to defeat Covid and his accomplices.

Some solutions were right before our eyes that we didn’t even notice, like getting enough rest, eating our greens and staying hydrated. Others were buried deep internally like our attitude to stay positive and be optimistic instead of being fearful and worried. Fear is Covid’s envoy, working side by side is what makes them invincible. Other solutions were scribbled on slips of paper handed to us by doctors, that without a doubt assisted in saving our lives. 

Health gave back to my parents. She gave back our happiness and laughter. She gave back strength and unity. She gave back my physical and cognitive state to survive and heal. She gave back my life.

Today I have learned much from this sinister ordeal with Covid and hopefully others will too after reading my triumphant battle. My journey to recovery was complicated and self – loathing at first, in ways that even I had a hard time describing. Suffice to say, my experience with Covid has been life-threatening but interesting in a positive way. Covid and all his kind have become my sworn nemesis. Once upon a time, Covid was my roadblock which made me realize life works to test our resiliency. We have the option to overcome encountered roadblocks like Covid and take it as an opportunity for change, rather than becoming our own enemy with limitations and submitting to apocalyptic thinking.

How else can we endure the need to thrive futuristically in an ever-changing world?