{"product_id":"hold-your-breath-9781956692549","title":"Hold Your Breath","description":"March 18, 2020Corona and Cancer\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow much time do I have?\u003c\/em\u003e The man asks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith words muffled behind my double mask, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI mumble something. He accepts the answer, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethe non-answer. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSometimes, you ask just to hear the question \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand not the response.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIs death disguised in the cancer cells inside him? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOr is it floating in the air around us?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI give him chemotherapy to chase away the first.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI wear a mask to trap out the second. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEqual fight?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnknown. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe answer hides behind the mask of uncertainty.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat I had mumbled was: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow much time does life on Earth have?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI am glad he didn't hear it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe is glad too.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTalking to people behind masks is tricky.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey can only see your eyes\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand the frown in them can't hide behind a smile.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTruth. The truth is more naked behind a mask. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI feel each breath I take. How precious life is behind a mask!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnmasked, you're never aware of breathing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI hear my breath behind a mask. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow loud life is behind a mask!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMasks don't cover your vision. Only your gasp. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGoogle statistics.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRoll, roll, numbers roll. County's count. State's count. Nation's count. World's count. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the beginning, I could add and subtract\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eyesterday's cases from today's. How many more?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow I can't. With six digits, you lose track.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNo. You won't lose your job, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI answer my single-mother secretary.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDid she smile? Can I see her mouth behind her mask?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDid she see the truth in my eyes?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThank God for masks. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo one questions the truth in the eyes \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eif it doesn't come out of the mouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow many masks do I have? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI have to make some from scratch this weekend.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Unsolicited Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/21\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781956692549\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 46\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.15lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.11d","brand":"Rana Bitar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42729598025909,"sku":"9781956692549","price":13.6,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_7cb47408-b6a1-49fd-8553-49df1e915405.jpg?v=1675804243","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/hold-your-breath-9781956692549","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}