There’s a virus on the loose

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Been around for a little while. Quiet. Discreet. A steely silence.

Then, suddenly, it started multiplying. And multiplying. Living in me, through me, taking from me — more and more and more..

Oh, now it’s made its presence known.

It came as quick as a viper’s strike. As if Death Valley at the height of noon, where not even an ant scurried, found itself at 12.01 transforming into Times Square at Christmas.

This virus — it’s millions of times smaller than me. Yet, it is choking me. Doesn’t let me breathe. It raises my temperature to dangerous levels. A red flame is simmering me, and I don’t know what to do.. I’ve had no time to adapt. It moved as fast as lightning, and I can merely glide like a feather, drifting to the ground.

Finally — yes — my immune system woke from its slumber. Fighting back. Too long have I waited.. Too much have I suffered, without uttering a word. Like a thousand brilliant orbs of light, descending on the arid surface of the moon — I strike back, yes.. with a vengeance.

Oh, but, you know, this virus is smart. Adaptable. It knows how to starve my soldiers at the front line. It wont let my defense win.

This virus can build hospitals to treat its fallen — in a week. It can work together as a colony of billions and pool its knowledge, its strategy, its ingenuity — its tools, its technology and its resources — everything, in this battle. Like a laser beam focused with the burn of a black hole, it will counter strike against my defense, until this wave is eradicated.

I will lose this battle. The virus will endure. For now..

But you, virus, have been warned.

Try me again, and oh, I will unleash a black flame of devastation on my skin — where you perilously cling to life. It’ll only take a few seconds for me to recover from scorching it all. I will be fine. But you wont…

So live in harmony, and without abuse, with all else within me.

And like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, you will finally become what you are — a steward of your home.