Exhausted on my way home from work, I stop for groceries. Normally, I enjoy shopping at this small organic market. Bright peppers, freshly-misted greens, and earthy rainbows of yams bring me closer to nature in my gray suburb. Today, I’m distant from my senses.

After weeks of speculation and debate, the news is beginning to urge people to prepare for a pandemic. I look at my grocery list. Blueberries, almond butter, and frozen pizza won’t suffice.

I stand and stare at a shelf of grapes. I tell myself to keep moving, make a plan, don’t interact. Everything appears so normal, but to me, the unknown is overwhelming…