1. It all started as a small influenza in China. We thought we were safe. We thought it was nothing serious - a small virus could not cause much trouble, could it? We made guesses about its origin, laughing about it as we went, until it hit us.

2. It came harder than anything we had faced. The virus claimed lives by the thousands. Our economy was smashed like a wrecking ball.

3. It left nothing but mass destruction in the wake of the coronavirus. We thought it was over.

4. In Singapore, the number of cases rose to 60,000. It was 14 January 2020. That week, I went to work as usual despite not being in the pink of health.

5. However, to my dismay, my condition seemed to worsen with each passing hour. Heat pulsated through my body, almost knocking me down. Popping a mint, I boarded a taxi to the nearest clinic, hoping for the best.