Control

by Emily Lawrence

I want to tell you exactly what to do, and I want you to listen. I want to grab you, shake you, make you see how precious your life is, and how fragile.

I do not care what your friend said; this is not the flu.

I do not care what the president said, you must wear a mask. Here, I made you one with my own hands. It is supposed to be uncomfortable; that’s how you know it works.

How do I make you both courageous and afraid?