Blog Post #4

 The short story Herd Immunity, it follows the protagonist Nayima who spends three days trailing behind a united guitarist in a dystopian landscape. The story offers glimpses into the desolate state of the world brought on by a destructive disease that’s brought death to many. Nyima travels on an abandoned interstate road following this stranger, in hopes of reaching a settlement or town of some sort with others who have managed to avoid the deadly illness. It’s revealed that the pandemic has spread to a point where only 1 in an estimated 10,000 people has developed immunity from the illness. Its described as a deadly illness that takes approximately 3 days to kill, with the first sign being nausea and vomiting. As Nayima follows this stranger, she expresses her desire for companionship and exhibits many signs of loneliness. Even though, the stranger meaningfully keeps his distance from her (as he is aware of her following). As Nayima follows the stranger with the guitar he scavenges through cars hoping to find supplies and she mentions she is running desperately low on water and food items. Upon stumbling across an abandoned carnival that is still stocked with miscellaneous supplies, Nayima takes the opportunity to stock up on much-needed resources and takes the opportunity to formally approach her unknowing companion. He reveals his name to be Kyle and refuses to be in close proximity to Nayima as he fears contamination from the disease, especially if she is a carrier. Nyima assumes like Kyle is like herself as she presumes is an N.I she describes as someone who has natural immunity. Kyle thinks his reasoning for not falling ill like many others has been because he has been incredibly careful in maintaining distance from all others. Kyle also is described to have his mouth covered at all times, as it alludes that the disease moves the air. In the dead of the night, Naymia sneaks upon a sleeping Kyle after he spends the night playing soft music on his guitar. In deep sleep, Naymia plants a kiss upon a sleeping Kyle’s lips before making her way back to her car which serves as her makeshift home. In the morning, Naymia is awakened by the sound of Kyle vomiting. Naymia immediately recognizes Kyle’s current condition as the first step in disease. Naymia leaves the abadoned carnival and it’s presumed that Kyle was in fact not naturally immune and Naymia essentially killed him by prioritizing her need for connection over a worldwide health crisis. As Kyle lay dying she took and few of his belongings and offered a quiet pathetic apology. As Naymia escapes, it’s obvious she has little regard for the preservation of human life perhaps due to the fact she's been surrounded by so much death and pain–she’s become emotionally sterile by the atrocities.