EXTRACT FOR
Juliet's Diary
(Giselle Renarde)

I never imagined things would escalate so quickly.



Seems like only days ago it was like, "Oh, there's this virus halfway across the world, sucks to be them."



Now it's everywhere.



Now it's us.



Or, that's what the news is saying.  That's what the politicians are saying.  That's what my parents are saying. 



It's everywhere.  It's bad.  It's gonna get worse.



Stay home.



So yeah, okay, maybe if you're eighty. But what if you're eighteen or nineteen?  Who's gonna get sick and die at my age? 



This virus has radically fucked up my first year at university. Classes have already shifted online. Oh well.  It's just as easy to skip an online class as it is to skip one in person. Maybe even easier.  As long as I can find someone who'll sell me exam questions, I'm set.  



Worked in high school. That's how I met Romi. She's so smart. And she needed the money.



Not that I care about my education. I only enrolled in university because Dear Old Dad promised to pay me fifty grand if I didn't move out right away.  Or, to put it less succinctly, he didn't want me moving in with Romi and her whole consortium.



So I didn't move out.



I stayed put.



And look where that bright decision landed me.