Bong in hand, he looked at the blackened and burnt remains of the last hit he had taken. Contemplating whether to fill the fifth bowl or was it the sixth now? He wondered.

Sighing, he places the glass bong back onto the table with a thump. Normally he wouldn't be smoking so much but something about spending hours looking for a pair of trainers in his price range of nearly nothing was killing the soul one page at a time. The worst part and the real thing that crushed his will to live was most of the websites offering cheap shoes in his budget, didn't have mobile versions. Something about navigating websites not offering mobile alternatives felt like psychological torture to him.

It was way past midday before he'd finally settled on a pair, they were a type of rugged walking trainers. They weren't what he would normally go for, but the big selling point was the water and stain resistance offered, the fact they were fifty percent off with free next-day delivery if you chose them in green was just the clincher.

Now without footwear until the new ones arrived, he was stuck indoors. Grabbing the phone he sent a message to his landlord Carl...

"Hi Carl, I've got a parcel coming tomorrow morning, will you keep a hear out in case they deliver to yours?"

After clicking send, he noticed the discord app he'd been attempting to hide from out of embarrassment. With a deep low groan, he reluctantly opens it to pass some time...

DeadHead69.... Sup all, I'm back lol

PixelPuncher.... Dude, where have you been? I was joking just last night with @Phil you were prob in bed drinking chicking soup.

DeadHead69.... Been a bit busy with stuff, why would I be in bed with soup though?

Phil.... Who summoned me from work? Sup

Phil.... @PixelPuncher Don't go disturbing me at work with that shit. Yesterday was enough for me! Great to hear from you @DeadHead69, but a bit of advice ignore pixel he's gone full conspiracy nut on us.

PixelPuncher.... dude, Phil chill, your just sour you can't argue my points!!! LMFAO

Phil.... Not gonna argue now, I'm at work. Back later!

PixelPuncher.... @DeadHead69 looks like some idiots here are being bitches so I'm not gonna get deep into it now! But for real I've been hearing weird things about stuff kicking off in Europe and there. Lots of people are getting sick and even some places limiting travel to them. All I'm going to say is try to stay away from anyone who looks sick.

DeadHead69.... Not sure about weird things kicking off but it's not unusual for bugs to go around this time of year. It's autumn after all. I think I might know the bug you're talking about, but I haven't heard anything too bad lol.

Flocker.... Yo @DeadHead69 you doing good?

DeadHead69.... Not too bad thanks.

PixelPuncher.... I'm not gonna make a big deal out of it, just stay safe man! Anyhow, I'm going AFK for food back soon. Peace ;)

Flocker.... Yeah, I'm not down with pixels conspiracies like Phil but I've got a friend over there sick now man, says it's like the flu on steroids. I wouldn't want to catch it lol

DeadHead69.... Yeah, thanks for the advice, I was just coming on to check in but I'm a bit busy atm so gotta head off again. Catch you all later.

I closed the app with a swipe, holy shit if id known they were making a conspiracy out of a bug id have stayed away.

????.... laughing, "You don't want to get sick!"

Spinning, looking all around for the person talking, he sighed in relief, it was just the radio he'd put on earlier for background noise. The voices sounded different now he was focusing on them but the topic was of course... the virus, it was a radio segment with two guys giving an informal discussion on current world news.

"This is why I avoid people" he moans aloud to no one.... with his already dwindling enthusiasm he turned the radio off.

Later on, while making a delicious cup of mind soothing earl grey tea, he just couldn't shake that virus stuff. It felt like everyone knew something he didn't. He'd already done a google search on it by this point but the only thing that gave any real info was an NHS (national health service) website listing symptoms.

The main symptoms were a SoreThroat, Sweating, Fatigue, cramps, and vomiting but they were advising anyone who felt ill in any way to stay at home until they recover. Apparently, the virus wasn't too serious but it has a high transmission rate.

After that the rest was just the usual common sense crap about washing hands, not sneezing on people, checking on loved ones in a vulnerable state etc...

As the hypnotic smell of the brewing tea bag was working its magic and easing his thoughts... The internal door to the apartment comes to life with banging.

Snapping him out of the trance, he knew exactly who it was, he made his way over to the door.

Sighing with the thought of more social interaction he unlatched the big wooden fire door and opened it.

"Hi Carl," he says...

"You alright mate" I got that text you sent but my phone service is acting up, it won't let me call or text out.

Sniffling Carl reaches for his pocket, "hold up man" he says reaching in. On taking the hand out the red-haired well-built man held a tissue, "allergies my friend" Carl laughs. Anyhow just wanted to let you know I'll listen out for it.

"Thanks man" he replied, "it's only a pair of shoes but I can't miss them, I'm stuck inside until they arrive".

"Oh shit, what happened to your other ones, they weren't very old either right?" Carl replies

"I just wrecked my old ones falling over" he lied not wanting to admit they had gotten puked on by the drunk.

"Oh shit that sucks, I'm sorry," Carl says sympathetically. Well I've got to go out later for allergy stuff anyhow, if you need anything I can grab it for you?

Feeling a little on the spot at the kindness he tried to act cool "Nah, I'm good thanks for the offer though", he'd already got food shopping so was pretty set.

Turning and heading back down the stairs the leaving landlord calls back "Ok man no problem, text me if you change your mind and decide you do, see ya mate" with this, he was gone into the floor below.

Closing and relocking the door he headed back to the cooling mug of tea on the counter and began to drink...

The rest of the day and evening flew by in a blurry state of switching between the bong, gaming, and those cool youtube videos of guys making buildings with mud and stones.

At about 2am and realizing at the rate he was going the weed would run out fast, he reluctantly called it a night.

Luckily no weird talking cartoons disturbed his rest this time and he gracefully awoke to the banging of his door once more. Looking at the clock it was just after 11am.

Getting out of the bed feeling groggy, in nothing but boxer shorts and socks, another knock came blasting away that last bit of sleep haze. It was the internal door again.

"Mate open up" he heard a gruffer-sounding Carl. Deciding the landlord sounded urgent, he opened the door in his current half-dressed state.

"What's up?" he asks?

"Here, it came earlier but you weren't up" Carl shoves a parcel into his hands a little too forcefully.

Feeling confused he thanks him, "Thanks for..." but as he spoke he was cut off...

"Yeah, yeah, Never mind that! Have you seen your phone? I need to know if it's real? Did you get....." Carl kept blathering until he just couldn't follow anymore.

"Look I've just woken up man, slow down" he interrupts mid-sentence.

"Just check your phone!" The increasingly frustrated Carl tells him after a few seconds with a blank expression

Sighing and confused, he turned and headed back into the room. The phone was on the sideboard being charged, snatching it up and detaching the cord he turned to look at Carl. "What am I checking it for?" He asks, even more confused now.

Before he got an answer though he saw it, there was a notification flashing on the screen...

"Official alert warning do not ignore!" The heading read...

Carl was speaking again, but he ignored this as he started to read...

"Under section 66b of the new viral control legislation, this city (Nottingham) has been deemed at high risk!

Under the rules voted in by parliament areas with a spike in viral infections are to be quarantined. This zone is now under controlled order 66b.

From the moment this alert is received! You are to return home promptly and stay indoors, avoid direct contact with anyone outside your family bubble, and do not let anybody inside your home under any circumstances! If you or anybody you know have symptoms please contact the new dedicated viral helpline for advice and guidance on 672. All calls to this number are free!

There is no need for panic, Further info will be provided at a later time on what to do about food, medication, and general advice.

emergency advice can be accessed through 672 if needed, do not call 999 as all emergency services are now being redirected to this new number.

Stay inside and stay safe

Signed

Temporary acting prime minister, John Cockworth"

Wait, is this for real? Before he could think on it further Carl breaks his stunned silence...

"FUCK, FUCK FUCK" Carl shouts while pacing around the room, it is real, isn't it? Your face says it. "Damn it" he groans, no date night for me now.

"Ahhh that sucks, sorry" he replies awkwardly to this unimportant revelation about Carls date. "When did the virus get so bad?" he asks trying to get to the bit he didn't understand.

Carl starts Looking towards his own phone, then whips his head back up like only half paying attention now...

"It was like he had suddenly thought of something important or was that maybe fear?" He only thought this to himself but Carl look flustered at something! Coming back to the situation, Carl was talking again

"Okay man, it's all messed up sure haha, anyhow I just wanted to check, see if it was a joke message but now I know you got it too imma go make a few calls and cancel my plans tonight.".

Just Like if he was no longer there or worth listening to the mumbling landlord abruptly turned away and left.

Left just standing there he hears Carl call up to him "don't go reporting my allergies you hear haha".

In pure open-mouthed astonishment at what had just happened, he was left staring at the open door leading to the dark abandoned stairway.

Closing the door, he was in utter shock trying to process it all. Everything since that god damn solar flare had felt like one shit show leading to another, and now with this, it was just too much.

He started thinking to himself, "Maybe this wasn't the best time to go off of my meds after all" the past week had been slowly grinding away at his mental state he thought.

Deciding with all the bullshit that had driven his mind into the gutter already, he just couldn't handle the quarantining too. With anxiety building and a growing feeling he was giving in way too easily, he opened the cupboard door with reluctance.

The brown plastic container sat there on the middle shelf where he had left it. With one last sigh and a shrug, he snatched it up.

This past week had been making his anxiety skyrocket as it was but now! Well with a quarantine imposed and Carl acting weird too. It's like everything is going insane and he was the only one who was not. He wasn't even sure what's happening anymore but with his mental state taking a major plummet. it was best to go back on the meds again he knew, "just until he felt normal again" he reassured himself.

The container felt nearly empty on rattling it, horror and regret started flooding his mind.

He didn't fetch his latest prescription or the last one from how empty the bottle felt. Opening the lid he looked inside and cringed, three pills lay there staring back at him.

That feeling of knowing you fucked up big time hit his stomach. Panic building "maybe his parents could?", Could what he thought, they were on a cruise in the middle of the ocean!

A grand total of One and a half days of medication was all that was left, not enough for a forced quarantine he panicked. Then he thought of the food he had brought, he had maybe four days there at most too, even he really stretched it out it wouldn't be enough, "Crap, Crap, Crap!" Ran through his head.

Remembering the message had said something about medication, he re-read it. Sighing, he was just going to have to hope they contacted him soon with further advice like stated. Surely they knew people couldn't just go into isolation at the drop of a hat. If not, he would just have to call 672 in the morning for advice.

"Screw it," he thought, "I'm sure it will be fine", he gulped swallowing his first dose with some water that was left out on the stand from the night.

The parcel containing his new trainers lay there on the bed where it had been thrown. The idea of opening them and restoring his ability to leave felt less important to him now.

Deciding to do what he does best in these types of situations, he switched on the Playstation for support. Five hours later and one bag of weed empty he was completely calm and relaxed. Too calm he thought, maybe the pills were working fast. Feeling groggy "time for a nap," he thought.

On getting up, the whole room began spinning, it was almost like he was on a merry go round but no stops. "The pills must be giving me side effects because of the absence," he realized, clenching his head to get balance.

With the grogginess and feeling dizzy, it was too much, being slightly too stoned just made him feel sick now. He made his way to the bed wobbling with every step. Managing to get within flopping distance, he allowed gravity to do the rest of the work and fell forward.

Feeling out of it, he closed his eyes, the rest of the night went by like a sweaty hazy drug-induced dream. At times he awoke to what sounded like loud banging or maybe it was EDM music? Everything was like a fleeting dream and he couldn't stay alert long enough to make any sense of it. The darkness swallowed him whole and he was safe again!