Do you know what this is?
It’s the tracking bracelet I had to wear when returning to the UAE after visiting Croatia. The rule was clear: take a test before the flight, another on arrival, and then one after 14 days. During those 14 days, I wasn’t allowed to leave the apartment. Not even once. The bracelet made sure of it.
It was one of the most stressful periods of that year. I was already worn out. Now I was locked inside, alone again - just me, my laptop, Netflix, and my terrace. I tried to stay busy. I worked on the ventilator project, I read a lot, I even got creative with a few new side ideas.
But at the same time, my health got worse. Mentally, emotionally, and physically. I felt disconnected from reality. I started ordering random stuff off Amazon just to feel like something new was happening. And I wasn’t the only one going through it. Still, it felt lonely.
I counted down the days until I could be released. And when I finally took that thing off, it felt like breathing again.
