By Angela Watters
I didn’t realise someone had come home with me around the end of 2021. This someone had been talked about so much over the last two years, known for danger and a bad reputation.
The first signs it had come into my life was the second day of 2022 and 3 days later it was confirmed: Omicron (Omi) was in my life along with 20,000+ others. I decided to write about my experience throughout our week together.
Please note: this is only my experience with the Omicron which is differs from others. Wishing everyone a mild experience with Omi should it come into your life too.
Dear Omi,
I started a journal during our time together to warn others about what you were like. I decided to put it all down in this letter so you could know the impact you are having on people.
Day 1 – Sunday
The first time I thought you had entered my life was when I felt my hips ache in a way that I have never experienced before. I was tired, as I had been out celebrating the New Year for two days so this was not an uncommon feeling.
I tried to lie down and rest, only you wouldn’t let me sleep. This felt different to other viruses that have been with me. I decided I had to know for sure and tried to line up for a test, only to find the facility shut early. I drove back home with you where I had a fever and went to bed, trying my best to sleep. You are like a bad date I can’t escape from.
Day 2 – Monday
You made me so tired today. I got in my car at 7am to line up for a test to make sure I could get confirmation of your existence early so I was not stuck in isolation because of you longer than necessary.
My body ached, my head thumped and I had sweats and chills. It took 1.5 hours in the car to get a PCR test – a short time in comparison to others in the same situation. I reached out for support, confiding in a friend that I feared you were in my life. She gave me a RAT and it came back positive with two lines after two minutes.
I reached out to everyone I had seen over the past two days to make sure that if you were with them too, they could protect others from your evil grasp. The couch was the main place I spent my time because you didn’t let me rest elsewhere.
Day 3 – Tuesday
I woke up feeling better than yesterday. You made my head pound, body ache and made me sweat in the most unsexy way. If you were man, I would break up with you in an instant. I started the puzzle I had bought in case we ever came into contact, but I was only able to turn some of the pieces over on the table before needing to lay down. You really didn’t like to do anything enjoyable with me.
Day 4 – Wednesday
You let me feel energised on waking today. I did 500 skips on my skipping rope as I didn’t want you to slow down my fitness progress. After that, I had to lie down and nap for an hour.
I woke with a headache and a positive Covid text message of your official existence. I wasn’t surprised you were with me but it was weird that after twelve tests over two years to have you inside me.
The Health Department contacted me with a message later with instructions on what to do if you really put my life in danger and when you were expected to leave. You made me tired most of the day with a thumping headache. I put some of the pieces of my puzzle together.
Day 5 – Thursday
You were making my body temperature rise; I had to use a fan all morning to keep myself cool. I got a call about you, mid-morning from the Health Department conducting a survey about you and how you have been treating me. It was mostly statistical style information and the person on the phone was unable to answer any of my specific questions about you. I don’t think she had ever met you in person before.
As the day progressed, some wine turned up at my door from a special friend. You gave me a sense of security today and I drank some to celebrate how much better I was starting to feel. Maybe the bad times with you are almost over and you’re not really as bad as people say you are.
Day 6 – Friday
I felt terrible today – the wine that you made me feel well enough to drink last night might have contributed to that feeling. I am sad we couldn’t have a nice night and morning together. I got up to let my dogs out to be walked, only to have to go back to bed twice to rest. You are making me sweat again and my head had been pounding all day as a reminder you were still around. No puzzle action today.
Day 7 – Saturday
I woke up feeling so much better today – I thought I was strong enough for you to start to get the hell out of my life. I slept through the night with only a few coughs showing you are still hovering around me. My puzzle had a border now and there is no way I want you to stop me doing things again.
Day 8 – Sunday
Today is our final day together. I think you are gone now anyway, although I do feel fatigued. Tomorrow I am going for a dog walk and coffee at Brother Nancy and you are not invited. I feel back to my old self. The person I was before we met but the impact of being around you has tired me out.
I feel like the last two years of living in the inner west of Melbourne made me ready to meet you and my local community of friends and family were really helpful during our encounter. I hope to be able to return the favour to them should they meet you. I will get my puzzle finished but you won’t be there to see it.
Good riddance Omi,
Angela
