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On the 23rd, my final day at work, I receive the email from my mother:

Well, Dans kids were exposed to covid...Jodie tested positive...I'm not sure how you feel about this...We could do Christmas with you Christmas eve, or Christmas afternoon..or you are welcome to come Christmas day...it's all up to you...again remember Bryan has to go to work at 2:30.but the big yummy food will be here Xmas afternoon...you were here with sick Bryan last year

(I did not spend Christmas Day with my family last year, though I did see Bryan on Christmas Eve. I cannot recall how sick he was or with what, but he does work in the healthcare field.)

I had built up in my mind that this would be my last Christmas with my niblings. Did I acknowledge that this possibility, kept from them by COVID? Yes, but I hoped it was a small one. Dan does not take COVID seriously and has inoculated none of his children. This was a potential outcome.

Though I have the next ten days to recover and three shots in me that should make me resistant, Amber only has the latter. She is honor-bound to tell her work if she has had contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID. Her animal hospital is already down too many workers and could not afford to lose her.
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