{"id":1142,"date":"2020-03-28T23:51:29","date_gmt":"2020-03-28T23:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/?p=1142"},"modified":"2024-08-23T18:54:42","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T18:54:42","slug":"twenty-twenty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/twenty-twenty\/","title":{"rendered":"Twenty Twenty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<aside class=\"other-formats\">Other formats: <a title=\"Twenty Twenty (PDF)\" href=\"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/ebooks\/en\/pdf\/twenty-twenty.pdf\">PDF<\/a> | <a title=\"Tuttugu tuttugu (\u00edslenska)\" href=\"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/is\/tuttugu-tuttugu\/\">\u00edslenska<\/a><\/aside>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Twenty Twenty \u2014 Illustration by B\u00f6rkur Sigurbj\u00f6rnsson\" class=\"wp-image-2107\" style=\"width:256px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=2048%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=900%2C900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?resize=500%2C500&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?w=2280&amp;ssl=1 2280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?w=3420&amp;ssl=1 3420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Illustration by B\u00f6rkur Sigurbj\u00f6rnsson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I looked both ways before stepping out into the street. I listened for footsteps. The coast was clear. No one was around. I could leave the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I had barely taken two steps down the road when I heard the helicopter hovering above my head, repeating the same message over and over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWE&#8217;RE IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY&#8230; STAY AT HOME&#8230; DON&#8217;T PUT OTHER PEOPLE AT RISK&#8230; STAY AT HOME&#8230; WE&#8217;RE IN A LOCKDOWN&#8230; STAY AT HOME&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hid under the canopy of a large tree while the chopper passed, hugging the trunk, trembling in tune with the leaves above me. Had they seen me? Did they know where I was going? Could they read my mind? Had they reported me? Would someone come for me? Take me away? Was I in trouble?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWE&#8217;RE IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY&#8230; STAY AT HOME&#8230; DON&#8217;T PUT OTHER PEOPLE AT RISK&#8230; STAY AT HOME&#8230; WE&#8217;RE IN A LOCKDOWN&#8230; STAY AT HOME&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gradually the message faded until it was just a murmur in the distance and an echo in my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWE&#8217;RE&#8230; STAY&#8230; DON&#8217;T&#8230; STAY&#8230; WE&#8217;RE&#8230; STAY&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I let go of the tree and continued my journey down the street. My body remained stiff and my heart pounded in my chest. What was I venturing into?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I reached the main street I noticed there were some more people around. Scattered over the two sidewalks, keeping their distance. Some walking along the middle of the road. I could feel their gaze turn towards me as I took my place among them, keeping my distance, like a delicate product passing along on a slow moving conveyor belt. I could feel their thoughts penetrating my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat&#8217;s he doing here? How dare he? Has he no shame? No respect for others?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I bowed my head, looking down at my feet, as I took my carefully choreographed steps along the sidewalk, keeping my distance. I made myself as small as possible. Kept my arms tight to my sides. On one hand I wanted to become invisible, escape the inquisitive eyes of my neighbors. On the other, I wanted to shout. I wanted to come clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI DON&#8217;T MEAN YOU HARM. I&#8217;M NOT HERE TO HURT YOU. I&#8217;M JUST GOING SHOPPING. I&#8217;M OUT OF FOOD.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group book-ad has-text-color has-background\" style=\"color:#000000;background-color:#65aab1\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:33% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Among Other Things \u2014 Book cover Ana Pi\u00f1eyro\" class=\"wp-image-2143 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=1365%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=900%2C1350&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?resize=500%2C750&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/among-other-things.png?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Among Other Things<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This piece of flash fiction appeared in the flash fiction collection Among Other Things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you enjoyed the story, we encourage you to support the publication by buying a copy of the book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Among Other Things<\/em> is available as paperbacks from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Among-Other-Things-B%C3%B6rkur-Sigurbj%C3%B6rnsson\/dp\/993594669X\/\">Amazon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/among-other-things-b-rkur-sigurbj-rnsson\/1146128813\">Barnes and Noble<\/a> and e-books from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Among-Other-Things-B%C3%B6rkur-Sigurbj%C3%B6rnsson-ebook\/dp\/B0DC4VDQZC\/\">Kindle Store<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/among-other-things\/id6636554661\">Apple Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/among-other-things-1\">Kobo<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/in\/books\/among-other-things-9136592\">Storytel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also support the author through <a href=\"https:\/\/patreon.com\/UrbanVolcano\">Patreon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/buymeacoffee.com\/borkur\">Buy Me a Coffee<\/a> or by rating the book on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/217146264-among-other-things\"> Goodreads<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-50\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/among-other-things\/\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#ffffff;background-color:#000000\">book details<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A flash fiction by B\u00f6rkur Sigurbj\u00f6rnsson. A startled citizen ventures into the street during a nationwide lockdown. What are his intentions?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2107,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28],"tags":[76,72,66],"class_list":["post-1142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-flash-fiction","tag-anxiety","tag-sickness-and-health","tag-street-life","col-md-6 col-sm-6"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/twenty-twenty.png?fit=4724%2C4724&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1142"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2179,"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1142\/revisions\/2179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanvolcano.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}