We survived!

    " Daddy, I love you!" I woke up, and my eyes teared up. "I love you too, princess, " I said as my tears went down my face and I hugged her little teddy bear that I kept after years of her death. Loki sniffed and looked at me just like he knew how I felt. "It's okay, Loki." Loki is the dog that we adopted a few months before Nathalia passed away. She always wants to have a dog for her birthday. I looked out the window, it seemed like a fine day. I brought Loki for a walk around our neighbourhood that morning. Then, I saw Nathalia's mom, with her new husband. Our eyes met, and she just looked away. I knew that she was still mad at me, that she hated me, perhaps because of our princess's death. I walked away with Loki and returned home. 

    As we walked home, I saw a strange man stand and stare at Loki and me. Loki barked at him. He looked like a beggar, but he was wounded badly, and his eyes were red. I was scared to death just looking at him. Loki kept barking at him. Suddenly, the man was kneeling and crawling slowly. I pulled Loki's collar as we tried to walk away, but then the man crawled toward us as he was chasing us. We failed to run away as the man grabbed my leg. I fell down, and he crawled onto me and said, " Please, help me! Help, me!". The man passed out, and I quickly called the police with my shaking hands as I was shocked to death. 

    The police arrived and checked on the weird man. The officer looked at his partner and shook his head as he confirmed that the man had passed away. After that, the ambulance came, and the officer had a few words with me about what happened. I told them everything, and I could tell by their expressions that they didn't believe me. I was free to go and go home with Loki. At night, the news claimed that there's a virus that makes people go mad, as they'll act aggressively and behave like animals. "Is it a joke?", I asked myself. According to the reporter, infected people have rotten skin as the virus affects their bodies, and their eyes turn red. Then, I recalled the man i met earlier. " Nah, maybe it's just a coincidence. "Right, Loki?" I asked, looking at him. I guess he barked as a sign that he agreed. I went to bed after the midnight news. 

    Suddenly, I heard a scream, and the neighbourhood was in chaos as people panicked. Same as me! I went out to see what happened as the neighbours gathered. The old woman, Mrs. Wellington, who lived across the street, was covered in blood. "Help me! Please! What's happening? ", she shouted. Then, I realised that her eyes were red and her skin was badly wounded. As people called for help, she passed out and died, too. just like the weird man I met earlier. " Oh my God! It is happening! The virus is here! ", one of the neighbours shouted. Again, they panicked and went home terrifyingly, leaving the dead body alone. Police and ambulances arrived and did the same things as earlier. But the difference is all of them wore protective suits, and the police announced that we had to stay at home and be quarantined as our neighbourhood has been infected by an unknown virus. All of the shops, factories, and offices were also commended for being shut down by the government to reduce the risks of viruses being spread. 

    As days passed, the situation didn't seem to get better as the numbers of infected people increased and the quarantines were extended. Fortunately for me, I still had food at home, and I felt sorry for some of my neighbours who had to starve because they ran out of money and food, and some of them committed suicide. The phone rang, and i answered, "Gabriel, it's me! Meghan. Please come to my house now. Please, I'm begging you, Gabriel. "Please!" she said as she hung up the phone. I didn't have a chance to speak at all. That was the first call from Nathalia's mom since she passed away. I didn't think much and went to her house quickly. Thank God that I was not caught by the authorities. As I arrived, Meghan looked terrified. She quickly gave me a backpack and handed me her baby, Ashley. "Hey, what's happening? Where's your husband? ", i asked her in confusion. "Are you blind, Gabriel? Can't you see?", she cried. "I'm infected. My husband died! The virus had infected him! Now, please go! Save my baby! I'm begging you, please!", she said, pushing me away. 

    As I ran home, I saw Meghan's house was on fire. She burned her home to stop the virus from spreading. At home, I quickly cleaned myself and Ashley. I checked the backpack Meghan gave me. It was full of Ashley's things. Ashley's powdered milk, pampers, clothes, and documents. A picture of Ashley with her parents and written words at the back of the picture, "Mommy and Daddy love you a lot, pumpkin." I looked at Ashley and promised myself to take care of her like my own child. 

    As the months passed, the government succeeded in tackling the virus by giving vaccines to the citizens to prevent them from getting infected. The government found out that the virus was spread by monkeys and through the blood and saliva of the infected people. Unfortunately, people who were infected don't have a chance to survive, and their bodies need to be burned. 

    The situation seems to be improving slowly. People started to live their life as it's used before, went for shopping and working. As things get better, I take Loki and Ashley for a walk and visit Nathalia's grave. I brought a bouquet of flowers and a picture of Meghan. "Hey, princess. I guess you met your mom up there. "She will take care of you there," I said. So, from now on, it is just the three of us against the world, and Meghan, I promise you that I will make Ashley the happiest girl in the world.