April's Fool

     Their friendship started by accident. A friend from school had introduced him to her blog, Wicks, and he was hooked. Her name was Jenn Young, and that was just about all anyone knew of her: she valued her privacy. Although the “About Me” page labeled her a lifestyle blogger, it was obvious that she talked about traveling more than lifestyle choices. But that was fine by him: her posts were a flurry of eloquent descriptions and funny stories about the great many beautiful pictures she posted. She had a wicked sense of humor.

     He didn’t realize it was the Jenn Young who had approached him in the streets of Limerick one morning, asking that he please direct her to the best family-owned pub in the city. He had been running an errand for his roommate while he was visiting family, so he politely informed the girl that one, it was a matter of debate, two, it didn’t matter because nothing opened until later, and three, the package he held tucked under his arm needed delivering before anything else. He had offered to let her tag along on his errands, however, and in return he’d show her around the city to kill time before directing her to the pub.

     It was only after he read her blog later that night that he realized who she was. The pictures she had posted were exactly the ones he had taken with and for the girl earlier the day. While reading the account of her day, she had even given him a shoutout, repeatedly mentioning “Package Boy” helping her navigate the city. He had messaged her on the blog shortly thereafter, thanking her for coming to Limerick and informing her that he did, in fact, have a name: Ronan Ceallaigh. She responded kindly, with true gratitude for his assistance, and invited him to help her again the following day. When she left Limerick three days later, they kept in touch.

***

     He was worried about Jenn. It had been two months since the Wuhan Coronavirus began spreading in Europe, and the continent was beginning to go into lockdown. The blog posts had kept coming, albeit with less frequency, for a while, but the last post she had made was three weeks ago in Belgrade. Never before had she taken this long of a break without some kind of announcement. Moreover, Ronan had yet to receive a reply from her to his message from a week ago, something that had never happened before. He didn’t know if she was quarantined in another country, stuck at home, or hospitalized.

     His phone dinged twice. Picking it up, he saw two messages on the home screen.

Jenn Young: Hey, I’ve got something important to say

Jenn Young: Like, very important

     He unlocked his phone and opened his messages.

Ronan Ceallaigh: What’s up? Everything alright?

Jenn Young: Ronan, this is bad

Ronan Ceallaigh: Talk to me here Jenn

Jenn Young: I’ve got corona

     His heart stopped. He knew it. He knew it, he knew it, he knew it.

Ronan Ceallaigh: Jenn holy shit

Ronan Ceallaigh: Jenn

Ronan Ceallaigh: Are you alright? Are you home?

Ronan Ceallaigh: Are you in a hospital?

     He had told her not to travel once things got bad, but did she listen? No, that would make too much sense. She was young, so the chances of recovery were high, but--

     He stopped himself. He didn’t want to think of that, not now. His phone lit up with a new message.

Jenn Young: I feel decent.

Jenn Young: I’m in Vietnam right now, so they’ve hospitalized me.

Ronan Ceallaigh: VIETNAM? AS IN, THE COUNTRY BORDERING CHINA???

Jenn Young: Well, I’ve been all over Asia, and I’ve only ever seen one Vietnam, so yeah, that one

     Ronan felt sick. Vietnam. Of course she went to that godforsaken country. A developing country right next to the epicenter of the virus. What else would you do during a global pandemic?

Ronan Ceallaigh: Jenn, I’m not even gonna start with you on being in Vietnam right now

Ronan Ceallaigh: I just want to know you’re alright

Jenn Young: I’m better than alright

Jenn Young: Wanna know why?

Ronan Ceallaigh: Why

Jenn Young: Because it’s April Fools’ Day

Jenn Young: And you’re stupid

     He reread her messages at least five times before his heart rate returned to normal. And then he screamed and threw his phone across the flat.

     “Of all the asinine bullshit…” he muttered to himself as he went to collect his phone.

Ronan Ceallaigh: I hate you

Jenn Young: That makes it three years in a row now ;)

Ronan Ceallaigh: I’m not talking to you

Ronan Ceallaigh: Ever

Jenn Young: ;)