Ere almost slipped as she got out of bed. She quickly recovered, stood, allowed her muscles their daily stretch, and hurriedly began preparing for the day. Today was a day unlike all her others, yet it still required the customary preparation. Step one was a calming, warm morning cleanse. She stepped in the shower, turned the knob to high heat, and proceeded to scrub her skin furiously, anxious to rid herself of the night’s disease. Once finished, she found her clothes already hanging by the bedside, courtesy of her foresight. The thick, grey dress, ironed and pressed to a crisp, hovered stubbornly around her knees and clung to her skin like a layer of sweat. Not that she had ever experienced sweat before. What an odd sensation that must have been, she thought to herself. Pushing her radical thoughts aside, she cranked her thick woolen socks up to her knees and slipped on her polished heels. Over her clothing, she pulled on a clear safety suit to protect her body from the wild elements of her home. One can never predict which bacteria lurk in dark corners. Staring into the mirror for a final check of her appearance, she found the drab pigment of her clothing to be the opposite of a compliment to her deep complexion, but no member of society in their right mind would bother splurging on vibrant, expressive clothing. No, instead money was spent solely to buy all of the newest safety gear items advertised on the television, radio, and news. How wonderful would it be to wear something red. Bright and shocking and-  Ere stopped her wondering, irritated by her stray thoughts. As her mother always said, “Thinking is for the thoughtless. Why bother wanting more when everything is comfortable and safe as it is?” She grabbed the most important member of her wardrobe from the top of her dresser and donned it on her head like a crown. She most certainly felt like a queen while wearing her C19 Safety Globe Helmet™, watching it sparkle faintly under the white lights of her bedroom. It was the newest edition helmet, and only having been released a month ago, contained all the perks needed for modern life in 2120. It had a projectable map system in case one got lost, 6 gallons of vaporized water in case one got thirsty, and most importantly, it offered full insulation from the dangers of the air outside. Ere went on to attach her C19 to a large flexible tube to connect her helmet to the 30.19-pound oxygen tank that would last her a full 24-hours. She swung the tank over one shoulder and her backpack over the other. The backpack was clean, with defined edges, and a rich brown color. It was evident that Ere had never used it before. Textbooks and school supplies oftentimes remain affixed to the desk when taking online classes over MooZ Face Connections. Finally finished dressing, Ere rushed downstairs, heels tapping dully against the newly waxed, polished floors and nearly flew into the kitchen. 

    “Good morning, mother! I’m positively ecstatic, mother! Today is the day I take my very first field trip to Rek-Rah Highschool, mother! If we lived a hundred years ago, I could have taken classes there in-person, mother! The thought, mother!”

    “What foolishness in-person school must have been, Ere,” she scolded, not bothering to return her daughter's greeting. “To believe that our ancestors thought they were safe from each other for all that time! After all, it seems humans are each other’s worst enemy.”

    A deep frown ran along Ere’s lips. Her mother’s words were not helping to ease her anxiety about her trip.

    “Mother, tell me the bedtime story like you used to from our house’s PA-system. It would help calm me, mother.”

    “Well, ok then,” her mother huffed, a faint cloud of mist fogging the interior of her C19. “Once upon a time, our ancestors decided to wear masks collectively, one of the few times everyone got along, and the legendary coronavirus was no more within a few months. People, ignorant as they are, decided to go back to their old routines as normal, however, the media, god bless it, saved us all.”

    “Huh,” Ere replied, bewildered by how her ancestors survived for so long with their crude naivety. 

    “YOUNG LADY, WATCH YOUR TONE!” her mother practically screamed. “Anyhoo, the Media Saviors showed us how many products were truly necessary to prevent disease, and our society shaped accordingly. Happy, protected, and lining the pockets of corporations,” her mother said, flashing her brilliantly white teeth.      “Now, hurry on, you do not want to be late,” she said.

    “Thank you, mother,” Ere replied, shooting her parent a small smile. However, still feeling the sudden urge for support, took a few steps to hug her mother.

    “STOP, YOU FOOLISH CHILD! No contact! What has gotten into you!??” she yelled, spitting out each word in her shock.

    In truth, Ere was hoping her mother would allow one hug just once. After all, she had never touched someone before and was curious about what it would feel like.

    “Ok, Mother.”

    Ere quickly inserted her daily dose of liquid vitamins into her oxygen tank and breathed in the familiar sweet scent in the air of her C19. Marching to the heavy metal door of her house, she placed one hand on the squeaky clean handle, took a deep breath, and took her first step outside. Her heels hit the ground with a dull clack. Her surroundings felt no different from the interior of her home. Layers of insulation truly do buzz a sensation. However, Ere paid no mind to the lack of change though; today was already blooming into something she would never forget.

    For the first time in 15 years, 7 months, and 31 days, Ere walked down the untouched paved street, leaving all 23 bedrooms, 278 windows, 56 restrooms, and 33 staircases of her home behind.