Beauty

"So many have died," he observed, shaking his head. "And so many have lived," she responded. "We still don't have a vaccine; we can't stop it!" he exclaimed, irritated. "But never have so many of the right people been focused on a single thing for the good of all," she added with a smile. "We will never be the same after this," he muttered. "We never stay the same anyway," she chuckled. "We're change whores." "And I hate some people's let's-just-pretend-this-will-all-be-fine bullshit," he spat, glaring at her. "Optimism is a lonely path," she sighed, her eyes soft, "but you must train yourself to see the beauty in things or the ugliness will kill you - virus or no virus." "I've been dead for years," he whispered (not meaning to say it out loud) and she just nodded.