Page 6 of Only You

The loneliness of the city seeped into my mood and I felt very alone. It would have been better if my friends were here, because at least then we could go through ittogether. But by myself…

I reached for my phone, then stopped myself. I would have given anything to be able to text mom just then. She would have known what to say to make me feel better. She always did.

I ate my breakfast and tried to enjoy the strange, deserted view.

4

Molly

The Day We Traded

After breakfast, I called the airline to check on flights. I don’t know what I expected, but everything was grounded until further notice. The man on the line was friendly and helpful, but he didn’t know when that would change.

I brought a book with me for the flight, so I sat on the balcony in the sunshine while reading. I was able to enjoy that for a while, until dark clouds drifted across the sky in the afternoon along with a chilly wind that brought goosebumps to my skin, forcing me back inside.

At three, there was a noise outside in the hall. A shadow passed across the door, and then a note slid underneath into my room. I jumped out of bed and grabbed it. The words were hand-written on a piece of Residencia Al Gladiatore stationary:

Due to insufficient staffing, all hotel amenities are halted until further notice. Emergency supplies will be provided every afternoon.

Flabbergasted by what I was reading, I threw open the door. The concierge was bending down to slide another note under the door next to mine.

“What does this mean?” I asked, waving the note.

He stood up stiffly and covered his mouth with a handkerchief. “I am quite sorry, but we do not have the staff available to provide even the most basic of services. The maids to clean the rooms, the cooks to run the restaurant… Everyone is obeying the stay-at-home order.”

“Then what?” I demanded. “We’re being abandoned here?”

“A box of supplies will be delivered to you every afternoon.” He pointed to a small cardboard box on the ground next to my door. Another was sitting in front of my neighbor’s door.

I picked up my box and opened the lid. Inside was half a sandwich wrapped in cellophane, a bag of potato chips, a biscotti cookie, a single-serving bottle of wine, and a plastic bottle of sparkling water. It looked like the kind of package you bought on an airplane for twenty dollars.

“This is it?” I asked. “I don’t mean to sound demanding but… This is all I get to eat every day?”

The concierge looked around helplessly. His eyes settled on the vending machine next to the elevator. He rushed over to it, then used the keys on his belt to unlock the front panel. He gestured at the open machine.

“Please help yourself to anything in here as well.” He turned to leave.

“Isn’t there anywhere we can go?” I asked. “A bigger hotel that is staffed properly?Somewhere?”

The concierge hurried into the elevator. “I am sorry, but this is all we can do for you. Please remain inside your room as much as possible! It is for your safety.”

I groaned as I carried my box of supplies into the hotel room. There was a look in the concierge’s eyes: genuine fear. The fact thathewas afraid scared me more than anything else I had seen.

In the face of a global pandemic, my hierarchy of needs narrowed quickly. Forget the relaxing vacation with my friends, and forget eating delicious food at expensive restaurants. I had shelter. I had fresh water. I had food, as pitiful as it was. As long as they kept bringing these boxes, I would be okay. Even without them, I could live on the junk food in the vending machine for days. Maybe weeks.

Not a pleasant thought, but it wassomething.

“And most importantly, I have plenty of wine!” I said out loud, just to hear someone’s voice.

I ate my meal even though it wasn’t time for dinner yet. The sandwich was comprised of a thin slice of turkey and an even thinner slice of cheese. The bread was dry and tasteless, and the chips were stale.

Delicious smells drifted from next door. What were they making today? The same classical Italian music was playing, too. It felt romantic. It was probably a couple on their honeymoon.

I hope I don’t have to hear them having sex.

The smell of pasta filled my room, making a mockery of the crappy lunch I’d had. My mouth watered and my stomach growled angrily.

To get away from the smell, I tied a T-shirt around my face as a mask and walked out to the vending machine. It had a good variety of chips and candy, but I was hungry for ameal.