The Hope from Separation

By Tanya, age 13

The first time I learned about Covid-19 was when I overheard my mother talking about it to my father. A few weeks after that, when outbreaks were happening all over Beijing, out of the blue, my mother suggested that we go back to Taiwan. This was at the time when only China and cities close to Wuhan were affected by the virus. Our first instinct was to flee. I remember feeling anxious when we boarded our plane. My father couldn’t come with us to Taiwan for some reason, and I had never traveled anywhere without both of them.

Being back in Taiwan felt refreshing, we used to go back every year and it took me away from all my worries. Until we were informed that we would not be let back into Beijing. We were separated from my father and grandparents. I missed them very much and worried for them. My mom reassured me that we were going to get back very soon, and everything would be alright. I hoped that things would change, and I would see my family again. As each day passed, news of Covid cases were decreasing in China. Soon, I hoped, we could go home.