26th January 2020
"Have you seen the news?" my mum asks as soon as I answer my phone. "Six people in China have died."
I suppress a sigh as I roll my eyes."Mum, I've told you before to stop obsessing over the news. It only gets you worked up and it's not healthy for your heart."
"I'm not obsessing, Bella. I'm keeping up to date with current offers," my mum states exasperated. "I've told you this coronavirus could be dangerous if they don't get it under control and who's to say that the Chinese are even being truthful. I bet it's been over here for months already. We're all gonna be infected."
"Mum," I groan as I sit down on my coffee table, slipping my feet into my black shoes. "I'm running late. I don't have time for this. No one is going to die." I wish she wasn't so fixated on the news, but if she's not watching the news, then it's something to do with politics. The damn tv consumes her life.
"Six people have already died," she corrects me.
"In China," I agree. "But we're not in China. We're in Scotland, and we're going to be fine. Don't worry about it."
"But I do worry," she confesses and I know she does. It breaks my heart that she stresses so much over things outside our control.
"You need to get out more," I state. "Why don't you see if Agnes wants to go to the garden centre? You always enjoy looking at the plants and you could have lunch afterwards. It sounds like you could do with some fresh air and a little time away from the tv."
"Don't patronise me, Bella," she snaps, annoyed.
"I'm not patronising you, mum. I just think you could do with some company and I've already made plans or I would come over." I feel guilty because I haven't made time to go see her this week. I know it's not easy for her living on her own. She's never coped well since dad died.
When she doesn't reply I know she's upset. "Mum?" I ask softly. "Do you remember when we had the threat of bird flu?"
No reply.
"It was all over the news for weeks. They said we were all going to get it and then suddenly they stopped talking about it. Nothing happened. It disappeared. Coronavirus is going to be exactly like that. So please, stop worrying about it. Go out with Agnes, have fun and forget about it. Pretty soon no one will even be talking about Coronavirus."
"Okay, fine," she reluctantly agrees. "I suppose you're right."