Dear Corona,

I know we haven't met personally, but you have affected me in so many ways. You singlehandedly flipped my life upside down in what felt like a matter of moments. I went from being my happiest self, a college kid who's only definition of corona was the beer. You were my beer pong companion, until I played my last game without knowing. It's almost like your evil twin came and took over the game, and made bitch cup first throw.

When you first invaded, I was thrilled. I thought your sickness meant a longer spring break, and easy online classes. When reality hit me, my concerns stayed just as superficial. I cried for what I knew I was cheated out of: a spring quarter full of parties, wine nights, and beach trips. My friends and these memories were the greatest source of pain. I was more concerned about seeing my friends and having the "college experience" for ten more weeks than I was about my family and my future.

You brought me so much pain. Packing up my dorm room overnight, not knowing that final party was my last, turning the see-you-later hugs into see-you-in the fall. I blamed you for everything that was lost.

This quarantine you brought me has gave me a lot of time to think, mainly about how much I thought was stolen from me. Like a lonely girl suffering through heart break, I grieved the death of my freshman year of college. But like that lost girl learned from the mistakes of her ex, I learned from you. I learned to not cry over what you took, but to never take a moment for granted again. You cannot take away those moments I had. Sleepovers with my best friends, round four of dessert at the dining hall, bachelor nights, last minute study sessions. You did not take that joy away from me, you simply set it aside and gave my happiness new sources: family. You gave me a greater appreciation for the little things in life, beyond my college moments. My mom and I died my hair purple yesterday. My whole family got up after dinner to play catch in the backyard. Facetiming my grandma for over and hour. Sure, these moments do not reflect how I pictured my spring quarter freshman year of college, but these memories will stay with me for just as long.

This letter is a fuck you, goodbye, and thank you wrapped up in one.

I will always hate you for ending my freshman year so soon, but I am grateful for everything you have taught me. As it seems like all the world can talk about is you and you only, I am saying my goodbye. I will not yell to you about what you took. I will not cry over what I should have been doing next Friday night. I beg that you stay far away from me, until your kinder twin takes back over for a game of redemption pong. Finally, I wish you disappear as quickly as you came, and as quickly as my freshman year came to a close.

Best regards,

A confused girl rebuilding the pieces