It was December 31, 2020, New Year’s Eve. With a rise in coronavirus cases, no one was allowed to have big parties or see their family and friends in large groups. The usual of eating lots of food, playing party games, staying out late, and watching the ball drop with lots of people didn’t look the same this year. However, nonetheless, it was about to be a new year and everyone was so excited to escape 2020, and start fresh into 2021…but maybe that wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

Around three in the afternoon my mom started making lots of food. Even though New Year’s would be different this year, that didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy the simple and delicious things. As she was finishing up all the cooking, she decided that we would only have a few family members that we regularly see come over and bring in the new year with us. They all arrived around seven and we safely gathered around while sharing the few happy memories of 2020, talking about new year’s resolutions, and discussing all of our future hopes and dreams in a COVID-free world.

Midnight suddenly began to get closer and closer, but the only thing that seemed to be on my mind was all the negative things that have happened this year. No school, no work, no quality time with family and friends, no eating out for dinner, no shopping or going to see a movie, no weddings or parties, no toilet paper, and lots of staying inside (other than to get groceries or take a drive to keep some sanity.) As all my anger and stress built up inside the countdown began.

10 more seconds of the worst year of my life.

9

8

7 more seconds of stress and overthinking.

6

5

4 more seconds till memories will be fully in the past.

3

2

1, Finally, Happy New Year! I looked down at my phone expecting the date to change, but it still said December 31, 2020. I  thought nothing of it and assumed it was a glitch, but then I looked up and everyone was gone…my mom, my dad, cousin, and aunt, they were all sitting right there and they just disappeared.

I walked around the house searching for them and expecting them all to jump out as a surprise or a way to scare me, but the house was completely empty. It was quiet…a little too quiet. I looked out the window and realized that no lights were on except ours. No street lights were working, and I didn’t see a single car in sight.

“Where did everyone go? How could this be happening? I must be dreaming!” I said while rubbing my eyes in fear.

“You’re not dreaming,” said a mysterious voice.

“Who are you, and what do you want?! And where is my family? Please bring them back!”

“I’m sorry, but I am afraid I can’t do that. Your family isn’t in this year anymore, only you are.”

“What does that mean? It’s 2021…” As I looked down at my phone it still read 11:59 of December 31, 2020. “Wait, but why is everyone else gone, and why am I the only one here?”

“Everyone else has let go of their past. They have forgotten all the bad things that occurred in 2020 and were excited and grateful for a new year. Until you come to peace with everything and everyone that has wronged you this year, you will be stuck here, alone, forever…”

To be continued…