To my virtual friends during the pandemic

It all started in March 2020, when the world came to a halt. We thought it was temporary—just a two-week pause before life resumed as we knew it. But two weeks turned into two months, and before we knew it, two years had passed.

During those uncertain times, we found ourselves confined to our homes, our lives reduced to the walls around us. We were left alone with our thoughts, fears, and the emotions we had once kept at bay in the busyness of daily life. Isolation became suffocating, and the loneliness weighed heavily.

Then, somehow, somewhere along the way, I met all of you. I do not remember the exact moment when our paths crossed, or how our screens first lit up with each other’s presence. We had mutual friends, and one invitation led to another until, suddenly, we were a group—a support system that none of us had anticipated but all of us desperately needed.

Through our screens, we built a world of our own. We talked for hours about everything and nothing—our dreams, fears, childhood memories, and the things that kept us up at night. We cheered for each other’s successes and offered comfort on days when the world felt too heavy. In a time when physical closeness was impossible, our words became the arms that wrapped around each other in comfort.

We grew to know each other’s routines. We learned the shape of each other’s silences, the tone of our tired voices, and the different shades of laughter we shared. Some of us started the calls while eating dinner; others showed up in pajamas with messy buns or unshaven faces. There was no need to pretend. The screens did not lie—we were raw, vulnerable, and wonderfully human. We embraced each other for who we truly were.

I still remember the sleepless nights we spent together. There were evenings filled with laughter so hard it made our stomachs ache, and there were nights when silence stretched between us, yet we stayed on the call because none of us wanted to be alone. We shared secrets that we might have never spoken aloud if we had met under different circumstances. In a strange, unexpected way, the distance brought us closer than proximity ever could have.

But more than the fun and the conversations, you saved me from myself. From the thoughts that threatened to consume me, from the loneliness that gnawed at my heart, from the doubts that whispered in the silence of my room. In a world that felt like it was falling apart, you gave me a reason to hold on.

You reminded me that even in isolation, I was not alone. That friendship could transcend physical boundaries; that connection was not just about presence—it was about understanding, listening, being there in ways that truly mattered. Because of you, the walls of my room did not feel like a prison. Because of you, I laughed even on days when I thought I had forgotten how.

You helped me rediscover what truly matters—kindness, empathy, shared moments, and the power of simply being present. You showed me that support can come in the form of quiet understanding and unspoken solidarity. That even if we could not physically touch, our words touched each other’s souls.

So today, I just want to say how grateful I am to you. Thank you for every late-night conversation, every joke, and every shared frustration over the endless lockdowns. Thank you for your patience, your kindness, and for being the light on days when everything felt dark. Thank you for making a time of uncertainty bearable, even beautiful in some ways.

The world has changed since then. Life has resumed, and we no longer spend every night on those virtual calls. Some of us have moved on, found new routines, and returned to the outside world. But what we shared will always be a part of me. The friendships we built in those tiny squares on a screen are as real as any formed in person, and I will always hold them close to my heart.

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Wherever life takes us, I hope you know that you mattered. That our virtual calls were not just a way to pass the time—they were a lifeline, a safe space, a reminder that even in the loneliest of times, we were never truly alone. And wherever life takes you, you will always be a part of me.

Even now, I find myself smiling at the thought of our late-night stories, the random playlists we shared, and the way we knew just when someone needed cheering up. Those seemingly small moments built something incredibly strong—something I will never forget. They remind us of the strength we found in each other when the world outside felt unfamiliar and frightening.

With all my love and gratitude,

Leah

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Leah Mae C. Gaor, 25, is a college instructor at a university in Ilocos Norte.