It was only 2 weeks, it would be a mini vacation. We all were so excited to hang out together with no distractions. I was sad about sports but I thought we’d be back, we said it wasn’t a goodbye but only a see you later. There was so much to look forward to, sleeping in, seeing friends, having time to destress, but soon it turned into a lot more of a mess. The 2 weeks went by but they weren’t as great as I thought they would be. Everyday it got worse and worse and we were able to do less and less. By the end of the 2 weeks, we were shut in and locked down. A global pandemic was never something I thought I would say I went through as a teen. It’s not something I wanted but we couldn’t control what had happened. It started out okay, my family made the best of it. We played many board games, puzzles, even did fancy dinners and painting nights. But slowly as the quarantine kept getting extended, it was hard to keep a positive attitude, when it felt never ending. I can remember all the nights I laid in silence, holding back tears because the world felt so scary. I missed my friends and the sport that I love, it was painful to stay in and not do my normal. Not seeing loved ones was the hardest part, when you’re as close as my family, it didn’t feel right. By this point it lasted for a whole 3 months, that 2 week vacation, became a nightmare I didn’t expect. I have always had anxiety over things I can’t control. Years of counseling and therapy as a kid and I finally had beat it mostly. But Corona took away all of my progress, feeling helpless and lonely, scared of when things would get better. Covid took away my progress and a lot of happiness too. Then things started to get better and I was going to be able to see my friends, then my dad got covid and all the feelings started again. This was the final thread that finally had been cut, it drove me kinda crazy, and it was scary the state that I was in. I was now isolated from my family too, and couldn’t get together with my friends, anxiety took over my thoughts, and it became who I was. People don’t understand the mental toll covid took on me, I didn’t even get it, but I suffered silently. I felt alone and scared like everyone was against me, but really it was just my thoughts, that ruined me being happy. Covid affected those who got it, but the mental toll it took on everyone, is something that may affect us for the rest of our lives. When I look back I try to say it wasn’t that bad, I spent time with my family, we found things to do, and I didn’t get sick. But my mind was different because of it, and that is how Covid affected my life. But now because of the sadness and anxiety, I’ve learned to appreciate the little things, because you never know when things will fall apart.