1 Seventh Step

"Step forward, please." The faceless man in white cloak beside me uttered.

Not minding him, I continued looking around this unfamiliar place. The light seemed to envelop this empty, spacious, never-ending hall. 'Why am I even here?'

"Step forward, please." The man repeated. I sighed, and due to my curiosity, I just stepped forward.

FIRST STEP

As the sole of my shoe touched the ground, the light that enveloped the room slowly disappeared. The noise of the busy street crept the place. Then I find myself standing in front of a school.

"Classes are suspended, kid. What are you doing here?" the man said, "School is closed. Go home." he continued.

Not knowing what to do and where I am, I walked heedlessly to nowhere. I even signaled a jeepney and uttered an unfamiliar place. I looked around, and then I noticed something strange.

'Why is everyone wearing a mask?'

Then my thoughts were disrupted by a man's loud and seemingly severe cough. The people around him seemed to be quite worried and tried to scoot away from him.

"Why aren't you wearing a mask?" The girl beside me whispered, "you might get the nCOV virus thingy that's trending in the news."

"Really?"

"Yes! Here," then she handed me a mask, "use this and don't forget to wash your hands."

I just did what she said, and after a few seconds, the driver shouted the unfamiliar place that I uttered, so I decided to get off the jeepney.

I walked in an unknown direction then I was welcomed by a busy street with children just running and playing around.

'I thought there's a virus? Why are children out here in the streets?'

As I took a step forward, the busy street vanished, and I seemed to return to the empty, spacious, never-ending hall with the faceless man.

"W-wait. What was that? I wasn't able to understand what you're trying to show me!"

The faceless man just pointed upwards. It's the continuation of the scenario that I saw earlier, children playing around while celebrating something.

"Hey, did you hear that there's a suspension of classes for the whole week?" one child asked.

"Yeah! That's why I'm happy! I can get to watch cartoons and play outside for the whole week!" the other one replied.

"I'm excited too. But, what about the virus that Noli is talking about in the news?"

"Virus? My mother said that it's just fake, and it's just simple flu. The government is just trying to scare people for money. So, I don't ca—."

"Are you ready to step forward?" the faceless man interrupted.

"B-but I still need to know more about that virus!"

"If you want to know more, then step forward."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance, but I still stepped forward.

SECOND STEP

The same thing happened, but now, I'm in a chaotic place full of people in white frantically rushing from one room to another.

"The patient in rooms 06, 03, and 16 need oxygen. ASAP!" a woman shouted.

"More assistance needed in E.R! ASAP!" another one shouted.

Then, time seemed to slow down for a bit as a woman in white suddenly collapsed. The people around her panicked and tried to carry her. They looked around them, waiting for someone to help them.

"What are you doing just standing there?" the woman asked as she saw me staring at them.

I hurriedly ran towards them and carried the woman while others led the way. Then, we entered a small room with a bed. When the woman is already comfortably lying in bed, the others left except the woman who called me earlier.

"She must've been so tired," the woman whispered, "with not enough rest and delayed meals. This COVID-19 is surely a shock to everyone, eh? Even hospitals aren't prepared." she continued while staring at the woman lying in bed.

"So, nCOV is now called COVID-19?" I asked, which made her raise her right eyebrow.

"Yes? Are you okay? Are you sick too?" then she put her palm on my forehead, "Anyways, we need more people to work around the hospital. Try not to idle too much, okay? Let's go."

We exited the room and proceeded to a long hallway full of rooms with glass windows. Inside the rooms are the quarantined patients that I assume caught this deadly virus.

"Did you hear the news about Dr. Santiago and his family?" One nurse said as he's approaching.

"What is it? Is Dr. Santiago fine now?" the woman worriedly asked.

The man slowly shook his head and replied, "Dr. Santiago didn't make it. His family is on their way here as they showed symptoms of COVID."

The woman scoffed and ran her fingers through her hair, "Another one?" she whispered.

My attention shifted to one of the rooms as someone tapped the glass window.

'Oh, a child.'

"I want my mama." the child sobbed while tapping the window.

The woman just sighed and whispered, "His mom was one of the nurses in this hospital. The mom passed away because a patient lied about his COVID result. Sadly, the mom caught the virus and transmitted it to the child."

Before I could even react, I once again shifted back to the empty, spacious, never-ending hall.

"Still going to step forward?" the faceless man croaked. I just ignored him and stepped forward.

THIRD STEP

"We need to implement the lockdown as soon as possible to avoid the wide transmission of the virus." The authoritative-looking man commanded.

"We shouldn't have welcomed those tourists. Now we're facing backlash from the people." The man with the glasses whispered, but no one seemed to care about what he said.

"It doesn't matter anymore. Here are some of the guidelines that people should follow starting tomorrow." the man replied. Then the people around him seemed to panic and hurriedly grabbed their papers. 'Maybe he's the leader?'

"Establishments should be closed. Restaurants, schools, malls, etc. Limit the transportation on the ro—"

"But how about the workers and the commuters?" one asked.

"Limit the transportation on the road. Restrict people ages 20 below and people ages 65 above from going outside their homes. Create quarantine passes, and only one person per household should be allowed to have them."

The people seemed to ignore the man's question and just nodded as the man in the middle spoke.

"Implement this immediately." he continued.

"But how are the people going to prepare for the lockdown if the implementation is sudden?" I asked.

"Don't worry. The government will distribute relief goods and money per region." The man replied.

"But is it going to be eno—?"

"By the way," he interrupted, "implement curfews, and if someone violated the guideline, punish him." the man stood up and left the room.

The people started murmuring as the man left the room.

"What did he say? The violators will pay?" one asked.

"I don't know. In my notes, I wrote punishment. Ask others about their notes. " one replied.

"Eh? Never mind. I'm just going to announce what I wrote. You do the same thing too."

I groaned in disbelief. Are you serious? Sudden implementation? Limited transportation? Distribution of relief goods? Are those going to be enough? The people here are even unorganized and disorganized! What will happen to the people now!?

"Don't get too emotional and involved. You're just a spectator." The faceless man muttered as he saw my annoyed expression. 'Whatever.' Paying no attention to him, I immediately stepped forward.

FOURTH STEP

My eyes widened as a mansion stood before me. Trees, fancy plants, and expensive cars surrounded the mansion.

"There you are, Hijo. Come inside the mansion." A woman with a fancy hat suddenly came out of nowhere and pulled me into the house.

"Well, if you're bored, you can use the pool behind the mansion." The woman whispered and led me to their dining table full of expensive foods.

"When is this lockdown going to end? I miss playing golf with my kumpares." A man in a suit suddenly exclaimed and let out a loud groan before taking a sip in his wine glass.

"Same," then the woman screeched and touched her forehead, "I'm starting to get bored in our mansion and pool. I should've been in America by now. If only those stubborn peasants stayed at home, then the lockdown shouldn't have been prolonged. Here, Hijo," then the woman handed me a plate filled with food, "eat all of this. Gosh, I'm so stressed! My businesses are declining!"

"How about we buy Starbucks later? I heard that the drive-thru near here is already open!" the man consolingly said at the distressed woman.

As I was about to grab the spoon, it suddenly fell off the table. I sighed as I bowed down to grab the spoon, but as I sat back up, the long table filled with food is now an empty one.

Confused, I decided to look around, and the fancy mansion is now gone, replaced with a small yet cozy house.

"Hungry already? The soup is about to be cooked. Here, eat some snacks. Our food might not be a lot, but it can surely get us through the week." A middle-aged woman walked towards me and gave me a biscuit.

"Hey, save some water, please." She muttered as a child appeared out of nowhere and washed his hands.

"I know, I know." The child murmured and sat in the chair in front of me.

As the woman began to prepare the dinner, the door suddenly opened, and a man entered the house. The man immediately grabbed the alcohol and sprayed it all over his body.

"Overtime?"

"No. It's either jeepneys are full or there's none at all. I had to ride an air-conditioned bus to get home."

"But the fare for air-conditioned busses is quite pricey."

"I know. I'm sorry." the man replied as he sat at the chair, and the family began eating their dinner.

Everyone immediately went to their rooms after dinner. I entered the door that the woman pointed. I immediately laid down in bed which made me a bit sleepy. My eyes slowly closed, but even before I can get a wink of sleep, I was surprised by a baby's wailing.

I immediately sat in the bed, and the comfortable bed is now a wooden mat. The cozy house turned to a tiny, destroyed hut with nothing in it but wooden mats and a small table.

"Oh, sorry. Did we wake you up?" a young woman who's holding the wailing baby asked, "My poor baby's just hungry. Sorry." then she continued consoling the baby.

"Ma. I can't sleep. My stomach hurts." A child beside me whimpered as she held her stomach.

"I know. I know. Don't worry. Papa is going to be home tomorrow."

"But that's what you also said yesterday." then the child coughed uncontrollably. The mother winced as she saw her child's pain. She knew that she couldn't do anything, especially with her husband currently in jail, because of violating the curfew. What should they do? They need to earn money and the relief goods aren't enough. The child continued to cough while the baby wailed louder. Not knowing what to do, the young woman just kneeled and wept.

"Backing out now?" the faceless man uttered. Here I am, in the same empty, spacious, never-ending hall. Still not minding him, I just stepped forward.

FIFTH STEP

What welcomed me is a group of people, nurses, students, and workers shouting, rallying, and crying for help while raising their concerns.

I just stood there and listened to the people's pleas. Some plead for rest. Some are there to fight against the government's guidelines. Some are shouting for help. Some are raising their concerns and voicing out their suggestions. Then blood-curdling screams can be heard as the authorities started to violently chase the people to arrest them for violating the so-called IATF guidelines. I trembled as a girl in front of me is about to get beaten up.

"All we wanted is an aid in this pandemic! Why are you suppressing and ignoring us!?" the girl protested..

I was about to run towards her, but then everything seemed to disappear.

"No," I whispered, "I need to help them."

"You can't help them anymore. It's already in the past." the faceless man said, "If you want, I can take you much further."

"Further?"

"Yes. A year later," then I nodded, "you know what to do." As he said that, I stepped forward.

SIXTH STEP

Here I am, in the same crowded place with the same masked people.

"What? The number of COVID patients is rising again?" a woman.

"Yes. I heard that the government is going to lock us down again soon."

"But what about the vaccine?"

"Well, they said that the vaccine's out of stock."

"As expected in this country. In the past, people are arguing about it. Now, people are fighting over it." The woman said and chuckled.

"Ribbon cutting held on a newly opened hospital received backlash from the netizens. 'Insensitive and waste of time' commented by a senator." news flashed on the mall's television showing the picture of the alleged event.

I slowly walked away from that crowded place, and my feet brought me to a familiar place.

I slightly bowed down my head as I entered the solemn temple. Now looking at it, it seemed empty, as if people have forgotten about it.

"If someone is still there, please help me. Please save my child. He's too young to be taken away by this virus. I-I'll do anything. Just help him heal, please."

"I miss my parents. I know that it's for the greater good. I know that you must protect the people. But mom and dad. Have you forgotten about me? Please come back home."

"I just want everything to go back to normal. I want our life to return to the way it is. If someone is there, please hear our prayers."

"W-what should I do? Everyone in our house seemed to have caught this virus? I don't know what to do. W-we don't have much money. Please. Someone. Help me. Help us."

"I know that no one is there to listen. But like always, I'm still hoping that every one of us will heal in time. The people. The Earth. I'm claiming that everyone will still heal from this pandemic."

Thousands of prayers echoed through the temple. Some are in pain. Some are begging for another chance to live. Some are hoping that the pandemic will end. Some are thankful for their life. Some are wishing for their loved one's safety.

A tear escaped my eye as I realized something. Someone out there is still waiting for a miracle to happen, not giving up. Someone out there still believes and puts their faith in us. Someone out there is still willing to help other people despite experiencing hardships. There are still pure-hearted humans despite this chaos.

"How about now, Raphael? Are humans still worthy of our protection and guidance? Have you recalled who we are and what our duty is?" the faceless man, no, Gabriel asked as he saw my weeping figure.

"Of course, brother. I am enlightened. There are still people out there calling, believing, and worthy." then I took a glance at the figures standing beside me before raising my head to look at the never-ending skies above.

"Then you know what to do." Gabriel replied with a smile on his face.

Hopefully, in the seventh step that I will make, everything will turn back to normal, and every wound that this pandemic caused will slowly heal.

I took a deep breath and stared at the unknown future in front of me.

Humans, keep on believing, praying, and hoping, and may your faith never waver.

SEVENTH STEP