Journal,

There doesn't see to be much cause to say "dear" these days, does there? It seems like just when would trouble vanishes, another appears to take its place. Just being a normal teenager is hard enough without these extra problems!

As I write this I am in my bedroom, listening to the eerie quiet of home. Normally the TV would be on, or Victor and Quintus would be causing a ruckus, but not today. Not now. Grandma Abelia has decided to come take care of the house while my parents are indisposed. Grandmother doesn't care for TV, and insists on good manners indoors. Normally I wouldn't care, but in light of what is going on... well, even the illusion of normalcy might be comforting.

My parents? Mother is in the hospital, in labor. My little sister Flora will be born soon, and although I have looked forward to her arrival, I must say that she has rather bad timing. Father is in the hospital too, though for different reasons. I am grateful that the hospital was able to find room for them, considering how hectic it is there.

You may be wondering what's going on. Trust me, you're not the only one. Even when I first woke up I had the feeling that today was not going to be a good day. I turned on the radio and was shocked to hear the breaking news: trouble in Destiny City! An unidentified epidemic of some sort had sent a large portion of Destiny City into simultaneous comas. There were accidents and fires everywhere and the injured were being dragged to the hospital in droves.

After recovering from my shock I called home. No one answered the phone, so I called my mother's cell phone. She answered, and in a strained voice she told me that my father was one of the strange plague's victims and that she thought she was in labor. I hurried to the hospital, both to check on my parents and to take care of my little brothers. When I got there mother, Victor, and Quintus were still in the waiting room. Someone had taken father, but they were waiting on a bed from mother. After some arguing I eventually agreed to take Victor and Quintus home.

Of course, that was easier said then done. I can't drive, so I would've had to walk home from the hospital, like I walked from Crystal to the hospital. Miraculously Grandmother met us in the parking lot of the hospital. She made us wait in her car, took 15 minutes to go into the hospital and take stock of what was going on, and then finally drove us home.

So now here I am, curled up in my bed, writing in you. I'm going to indulge in pathetic self-pity tonight, because who knows what tomorrow holds. Assuming the world doesn't manage to end between now and then, I'll try to find out what's going on tomorrow.

((496 words.))