It was the day before opening night: the energy was high and everyone was excited to perform in front of an audience– except me. I attended school with a KN95 mask on my face, my body aching, my nose running and my throat sore.

I was doing an Instagram takeover for the CET Instagram account. The day started off energetically; I filmed myself in my first block journalism class and reminded our viewers to stop by the third floor for the last day to purchase tickets. As lunch approached, I recorded myself and other CET student board members selling tickets. But as the day went on, my mood dwindled.

CET rehearsal started at 3:45, however, I had to arrive earlier to help set up for our first audience of CHS staff members. I stumbled into the theater and lay on the floor — I felt dead inside. I kept pushing forward, I had a show to put on and I was assistant directing it.

I couldn’t stop now when I was so close.

The night moved on while I was crippling in frozen time. Halfway through the run of the show, I was resting backstage playing Helix Jump in the dark. I felt horrendous, so I opened up iMessage and texted my parents.

“I don’t feel too great. I think it is just the cold that is going around CET. I have a cough, the sniffles, a sneeze, and my body is aching. I was honestly thinking about skipping CET today but I didn’t.”

After that text, I left school, went home and tested positive for COVID-19. I spent the entire weekend of shows in my bed. For me, “Museum” ended abruptly. That was the end. It was over.