Thread by @asuph

A younger colleague's husband (38yo, healthy, active, with no medical history, non-smoker/non-drinker) passed away of COVID. She had called up yesterday to check with doctors in my circle about his prognosis. In the morning, he had a cardiac arrest after his BP went down. 1/

I feel helpless, sad, and insanely angry -- not even sure at who anymore. Does it even matter? We're failing as a society because we, as a group, don't care enough. When this ends, and those of us who make it through, would we even change? Would we start caring? 2/

I don't have high hopes. It's each on their own. Countries, states, cities, families, down to you and I. We can't wear masks for other people's safety. We can't defer marriages, can't refuse to celebrate religious festivals at scale, can't stop election rallies. 3/

It's depressing. This daily deluge of bad news. Some strangers, some connected to you by one degree of separation, some your nearest and dearest ones. I lost my father 15 days back. But that already seems so long ago. Most people you talk to have lost someone they know. 4/

This relentless spate of bad news is hard to take. Even for someone like me who has prided in being mentally strong. I don't know how people who have mental health issues are dealing with it. If any one of you needs to talk, my DMs will be open. I don't know how I can help 5/

but I will promise an ear. Even if it's just a distraction that you want, or recommendations in books/movies/music, talk about any of it, or food, or anything really, I am here. I'm going to cut down on my rage tweeting. It was how I grieved, channelling grief into rage 6/

but clearly, no one can go on like that. And it's not fair on others. But I assure you, my timeline doesn't represent me -- just a tiny part of me. Reach out if you need someone to talk to, especially outside the circle of your grief. I'm here. 7/

The only way we make it through this is by holding on to each other - a giant emotional safety net. In the last few days, I've seen the immense power of social media, finally justifying "social" in its name, with virtual strangers helping one another. That gives me some hope. 8/

And that's what I'm offering, though not on a logistics level, but on an emotional one. I reiterate: I'm here if anyone wants to chat. I'm opening my DMs. END/