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    January 16, 1348 

    My family lives in the outskirts of Rome, where usually nothing 

big happens here, as it’s pretty quiet. Though I feel as if something big is 

happening. I know many people that have gotten fevers. Especially my 

friend Hannah. Hannah and her family, the Schmidts moved here from 

Berlin, Germany a couple of months ago. Hannah and I have gotten close, 

as we are next door neighbors. But lately we haven’t been playing as much 

as we used to. She says that her head aches badly, and she doesn’t feel 

well enough to play. She told me that she hopes it’s not the flu, so that 

her younger sister Victoria won’t get sick. I feel bad for Hannah, and 

hopes she gets well soon, with Father working, Mother constantly 

cleaning, and Grandma Alice always knitting, I am quite lonely. Please 

Hannah, get better soon.

                                     ~ Sofia 

January 17th, 1348

    Today I couldn’t play with Hannah either. My hopes of her getting 

better overnight were not met. Her fever has gotten worse, she explains. 

She says it feels as if there are people stomping, and hitting her brain as 

hard as possible. Her mother, Anna, says she is to lay in bed until she is 

better. I feel bad for Hannah. Sitting in bed all day must be a real bore. 

Father has come back from work with a cough. It’s as if he’s choking on an 

invisible wad of food launched in the back of his throat. It seems that he 

has caught this flu as well. Why must the people I care about get sick? 

Whatever this flu is, it better go by fast. I want to see Hannah again. 

                                    ~ Sofia

January 19th, 1348

    I haven’t seen Hannah in the past three days. Every time I knock 

on the door to their small flat, Anna explains that she is still to lay down. It 

doesn’t seem like it’s gotten better either. Anna explains that Hannah’s 

joints seem to hurt something awful, and that she can barely walk without 

falling. I can see the heartbreak in Anna’s eyes, as she talks about her 

poor daughter, lying sick in bed. I can imagine Hannah, lying in bed bored 

out of her mind. Why must this happen to a dear friend? I pray every night 

for Hannah and her wellbeing. Father’s cough is getting worse, and it 

seems his neck is swelling. What is happening? 

                                    ~ Sofia 

January 21st 1348

    I must help Mother around the house because of Father’s sickness. 

Grandma Alice and I spend the day cooking and cleaning. Anything to help Mother. I 

fear for Father. That he will just get worse and worse, but I don’t dare say that to 

Mother. Mother would only get more and more stressed. Hannah’s legs have begun 

to swell. I feel really terrible for Hannah. So I insist on Grandma Alice and I to bake 

her famous oatmeal cookies for Hannah and her family. It’s the least we can do. My 

heart aches with pain as Father and Hannah are sick. Everyday there seems to be 

something added to their sickness. Nothing like this has ever happened before like 

this. So what’s going on. Mother is getting more and more worried every second of 

the day. She finally breaks and calls Dr. Bernardo to check out dad. The swelling 

under Father’s neck has gotten worse, so Dr, Bernardo has to make an incision to 

help dull the swelling. Hannah is falling more and more ill, so we recommend Dr. 

Bernardo to check her out as well. Dr, Bernardo is quite popular around town, and 

we often see him in his birdlike suit, carry equipment for his next patients. If anyone 

can stop this, it’s Dr. Bernardo. 

                                        ~ Sofia

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