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“I beg to differ, I would notice you in a crowd. In fact, I did. I noticed you right from the start,” he admits.
“What?” My jaw drops in response.
8
Levi
Whether or not she saw me before I saw her is still up in the air, but I just declared that I noticed her and was interested. I have no current filter and I’m okay with that. Generally, I’m more reserved, but I guess the special circumstances of our situation are proving otherwise.
She looks at me in shock after I tell her that I noticed her, but before I can do more, the radio on my belt echoes through the small space that we’re in requesting my presence by the command station.
I apologetically excuse myself and head over the command station at the front of the store to where half of our unit is standing waiting for the colonel to begin talking.
When he notices me, he turns towards me and leans in.
“I’m going to need you to remain calm in this announcement. The privates are looking to you right now for guidance. They have stepped up their game after seeing you list your name on a few areas, and I want that to continue. Do you understand?” he whispers.
“Should we debrief before you say anything further?” I ask with hope.
“We don’t have the time, Sergeant.” He shakes his head and returns to where he was previously standing.
I stand, with my arms crossed and take a deep breath to school my features.
I count to ten and then settle my eyes on his shoulder, a practice that I’ve mastered in remaining unfazed in other situations.
“Folks, we have a real issue on our hands. The parties that I previously mentioned earlier this evening of having symptoms have now been deposited into the quarantine tent. In a matter of a few hours, their symptoms worsened and I’m fearing that they are indeed infected with the virus. We are communicating with government officials into the possibility that more people within our quarantine here will be infected and we are awaiting protocol on how to proceed as soon as possible should we run out of quarantine space. I have instructed until further notice the doctor to conduct daily testings for everyone in this location. Testing will be begin again tomorrow.”
“Should we take additional precautions in our contact with others?” one of the guys asks.
“Not at this time. We have the infrared cameras in working condition here and I have two soldiers in the security office, along with the store’s security keeping a watchful eye. However, there are three areas which we are unable to see due to poor installation.”
“Should we heavily monitor that folks do not go into those areas?” I ask.
“Are you volunteering, James?” He turns his head to me.
“I will be wherever you tell me that I need to be,” I stand straight.
“Very well, please consider that a part of your rounds. As much as possible, I want those areas cleared out. No one aside from you, should be in that area.”
“Yes, sir.” I say.
He continues to issue out orders and the fact that people became infected after the initial individual did is worrisome.
That means that we are all at risk.
* * *
I’m standing in one of the aisles that is not able to be seen by the cameras in the store. I’m internally freaking out and trying to get that all out of my system before I have to put on a brave face and talk to others.
I’m practicing my breathing, something that has always calmed me down before a big fight. I’m troubled, in knowing that more and more people are coming down with the virus. I’m stressed that this is an unknown situation that we’re in that can change from one minute to the next.
I’m sitting on a pallet of boxes of paper, with my head in my hands after my shower, when I hear footsteps. My head snaps up and I see Kendall’s concerned eyes. I stand up and I take in another deep breath.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“Just the standard stresses of the job,” I tell her picking up my shirt that is still on the pallet to put it on.
Her eyes roam my bare chest with appreciation, making me almost want to not cover up.
