Chapter 30

OLIVIA It’s that time of the year again, the peak of flu season, and California was no exception. The flu outbreak had already made headlines across the media. Hannah’s school had sent out urgent letters to parents, advising us to keep our children at home if they showed any flu symptoms. After all, if one child caught the flu, it could quickly spread through the entire class, especially since children often have weaker immune systems. I always feel anxious when flu season comes around. Aside from being a child, my daughter also has a heart condition, and it would be especially difficult if she were to get infected. That’s why I informed her school that she would be taking a week off, to ensure she avoids getting sick. In addition to Hannah, I was also concerned about Margareth. She’s in her senior years, and like Hannah, she has a weaker immune system. My worry grew as the flu began to spread rapidly throughout our community. Then, unexpectedly, I caught the flu myself. I immediately