Guernica Magazine

Pretend Nobody Died

These days, every day is the same: I play with my three-year-old neighbor. At night, I call the hospital. Before I go to bed, I upload my photos.

When we play, I am Indigo. She is Sparkle Princess Rainbow Ruby Gem. Here, she’ll just be Ruby.

I’ve been in quarantine with Ruby and her real-life family for the past 50 days. In Ruby’s favorite game, Family, we play sisters: Sparkle Princess Rainbow Ruby Gem is in sixth grade, and Indigo is in second. We both have a lot of homework. Also, we can fly.

In real life, I pay her parents rent to live on the first floor of their Brooklyn townhouse.

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