The Power of Love Trumped the Fear of Death
A transatlantic journey during COVID-19
I’ll never forget the day we found a dreaded memo slipped under our door in NYC. It notified us of residents in our building who had tested positive and what we had to do to stay safe.
I remember the fear I felt as I read the memo, but I prayed for my neighbors with all my heart.
Around the same time, the British government announced that up to three households could meet for the holidays for a few days (source).
Would it be wise for us to travel to the UK in the winter of 2020?
There was a bit of good news to keep us sane. My sister-in-law had just given birth in the UK. We exchanged daily photos and videos, and dreamed of better times when we would be able to hold the baby.
It was tempting to travel and get away from the fear and depression around us, but I was dead against it because of the dire situation in NYC.
I felt that my mother was finding it hard to keep her spirits up every time we spoke on the phone. With nothing but doom and gloom in the media, she understood our reticence. But on a particular phone call, she blurted out:
“What if this thing never ends and we don’t see each other again?”
