It took three years for me to catch this damn virus. I’ve been so careful. I thought I was safe. I was wrong.

On Tuesday, my husband started complaining of not feeling well. Wednesday, he called out, with coughing, chills, and a fever. That same day, I started feeling not so hot and had to end work early. Thursday, we both called out and spent nearly the entire day in bed trying to sleep it off. The coughing was far worse for him than it was for me, and while he was freezing, I was boiling. It felt like pressure was building up inside my skull, throbbing so painfully that it was hard to even open my eyes. Yesterday, because his entire team (who work in Canada) had a national holiday, he had to sign into work in the morning, even though he was still feeling awful. I thought I was starting to feel better, but called out again to be safe because I was sleep deprived and a bit loopy. And I don’t have any paid sick time to use. I thought the worst was over.

Until the middle of last night. The coughing hit me like a ton of bricks and tore up the insides of my throat something awful. Every time I swallowed (water or my own saliva), it felt like shards of glass grinding at the back of my throat. Neither of us can really eat much of anything because he’s lost his sense of taste, and everything I put in my mouth seems to make my stomach very angry, no matter how hungry I am. I’m happy that a milkshake today has had the desired effect of both soothing my throat and my hunger pangs, but it’s hardly a nutritious meal. What I would give for a juicy roast chicken right now…

We haven’t gotten tested. I don’t really know why. But neither of us are having chest pains or trouble breathing (other than the results from coughing), so we don’t need to worry about going to a hospital. I tell you, I haven’t felt this awful in a VERY long time. I’m surprised I have the brain capacity to even write this out.

The pandemic’s not over yet, kids. Get vaccinated, get boosted, and otherwise wear your masks to be safe. I hope I never feel this shitty ever again.

-K