BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

**Dr Volkov’s POV**

As I entered the infirmary, I was taken aback by the array of artwork scattered around the room. When I asked Agatha, the innkeeper about them she told me about Alivia’s art competition entry, and I immediately realized it was the same girl that interrupted my presentation, and I was immediately annoyed. This girl really does not take anything seriously I growl to myself.

While inspecting each patient, I couldn’t help but think about how art classes could be taking away valuable time and resources that could be better used to treat the virus and save lives. My passion is medicine and my desire to find a cure for the virus is more important that this “art.”

When I encountered the so-called nurse responsible for the artwork, Alivia, I furrowed my brows and crossed my arms while pressing my lips together in a thin line. I asked her about her art classes, carefully masking my disapproval in my tone. Alivia stood up straighter and looked me in the eyes. She explained that art was not simply a hobby for her, but a source of hope and positivity for patients in times of difficulty. I could see that she believed in her cause, and though.

I still had reservations, I nodded before exiting and letting her words sink in. The next morning, I opened the door to my workshop and stepped inside. The room was filled with an inviting warmth and a combination of wood and leather smells. Rays of sunlight poured in through tall windows and illuminated the wooden table in the centre of the room. The walls were lined with shelves, cabinets, and drawers, each filled with equipment, tools, chemicals, and beakers of bubbling liquids. A large blackboard covered one wall, its surface covered in equations, diagrams, and scrawled notes. The corner of the room was dominated by a small stove burning cheerily, a beaker of liquid heating on its surface.

I grabbed a journal from the shelf and began scribbling down notes about the patients I had treated with the virus. Thoughts of my encounter with Alivia earlier that day kept swirling in my mind – how could she think something as insignificant as art would be able to help them? What they needed was science and facts, a cure, not something so ridiculous. I tore out each page and tossed it on the floor around me until sheets of paper covered the floor.

Just then Adam walks into the workshop whistling and smiling, a piece of paper in his hand.

“What is that?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Oh, it’s a letter about the Art Competition on Friday,” he says with a smile.

“How did you get that?” I ask, arching an eyebrow suspiciously.

“Alivia gave it to me,” he says, a slight blush on his cheeks.

At the mention of Alivia’s name, I feel a wave of annoyance wash over me.

“Alivia, again?” I say, my voice laced with discontent. “She has no sense of priority.”

“Adam, you should be focusing on finding a cure for this virus, not wasting your time with art,” I say sternly.

I know that I cannot force Adam to change his mind, but as much as I disapprove of him dabbling in art, I hope he understands the importance of our work and puts his focus where it is needed most. Adam struggles to keep his smile intact as he reluctantly nods in agreement. “I know, Dr. Volkov. But the competition is important to Alivia, and I want to support her.”

“I understand that Adam,” I say, trying to remain firm yet kind. “But we all need to remember what is most important right now – finding a cure for this virus.”

Adam swallows hard as he takes in my words and the gravity of the situation. “I’ll do my best to stay focused on the virus research and still attend the competition to support Alivia,” he says firmly.

My heart softens at his dedication and strength. I nod, knowing that with Adam on our side, we will surely overcome this challenge. “Just make sure you do not lose sight of what really matters here. We need to find a cure for this virus as soon as possible.”

We both turn back to our work, though I can’t help but feel conflicted about Alivia’s competition. But we have more important things to focus on.

Friday arrived and I watch Adam walk down the stairs of the pack house, ready to attend Alivia’s art competition with a big smile on his face, I begin to reconsider my earlier stance on the matter. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to take a break from our research for one evening and show our support for Alivia and her passion for art.

I walk over to Adam and clear my throat, drawing his attention. “Adam, I have been thinking. I’ll go with you to the competition tonight,” I announce.

Adam’s eyes light up with surprise and gratitude. “Really, Dr. Volkov? That would mean a lot to Alivia and me,” he says with a smile.
“Yes” I reply, a small nod.

As we arrived at the venue, I tried my best to ignore the large crowd of people who were eagerly awaiting the art. I was filled with apprehension, as I thought back to my reservations about the competition, but I forced those thoughts away.

My breath was taken away as I saw the incredible artwork around me, magical lights dancing around. Paintings, sculptures, and other pieces of art filled the room, each one more beautiful than the last. That’s when I noticed a small figure making their way towards us.

It was Alivia. A smirk crept up on my face as she came closer. “Alivia,” I said teasingly “Can’t wait to see what you did tonight,” I added sarcastically, expecting her to get flustered.

She rolled her eyes at me, not even trying to hide her annoyance. “I’ve put a lot of effort into my artwork,” she declared confidently, and I couldn’t help but smirk, knowing she was also trying to prove something to me.

Even though I was feeling a strange mix of emotions that had been stirred up by seeing Alivia and Adam together, all I could do was smile and say, “I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.”

She turned away from me, focusing her attention on Adam, and something inside of me stirred uneasily when they both walked away together.

The competition was finally underway and I couldn’t understand why but I felt really nervously watching as the judges carefully looked at all of the artworks.

Finally, one of the judges fixed their gaze on her artwork and asked, “Can you tell us what your artwork is about?” and I felt my heart racing faster.

“Yes ma’am,” she replied nervously, “As we all know by now, our community is facing many hardships due to the virus. Apart from studying art and being passionate about it, I am also a nurse at a local inn and have witnessed the effects of the virus first-hand. For this artwork I created, I wanted to capture the truth behind this situation but also encapsulate the beauty and meaning behind art and how it can serve as hope for patients and their family during devastating times. Through this piece I wanted to demonstrate how even during times of chaos there lies glimmers of hope, and how painting can be used to bring about such realizations.”

As Alivia spoke about her art and the ways it could be used to bring hope for the people during this challenging time and I felt a sense of admiration, but also a resistance to fully accept what she was saying. On one hand, I was impressed by her dedication and the amount of research she had done. On the other hand, I was sceptical that art could really make a difference in terms of the virus. The more I looked around the room however and saw the impact her art had on those around me, I began to question my initial scepticism. Could art really be used as a tool in fighting this virus? The thought felt strange, but also strangely possible.

As the judge studied her piece, her words of admiration hung in the air. “Your artwork carries a powerful message, and you have done a remarkable job capturing the emotions and effects of the virus in this piece,” she said, awe in her voice.

“Thank you so much,” Alivia replied, her smile brightening the room even more.

The room was filled with anticipation as we all waited for the winner to be announced. After what felt like eternity, the judge finally spoke up.
“The winner of this competition is... Alivia,” he said, prompting cheers and applause from the audience. As soon as Alivia came down from accepting her award Adam and Jess quickly stood up to congratulate her as I lazily strolled towards her.

“It seems like your artwork was worth the wait,” I said with a smirk.

Alivia smiled confidently, but there was an edge to her voice when she replied. “I told you it would be.”

As the evening progressed, I stayed near the back of the room, watching Alivia glow as she laughed with her friends. I was drawn to her energy, torn between wanting to keep my distance and wanting to be closer. I watched my surroundings seeing how everyone has come together laughing and speaking to each other casually, the virus completely out of their minds as they enjoyed themselves. I noticed a strange man standing at the doorway his face covered by his hood all I could see is the smirk form on his lips before he turns and walks out of the hall.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I saw the man leave, his hood and smirk giving me a sense of unease. I wondered who he was and what his intentions were. I decided to keep a close eye on Alivia, making sure she was safe and enjoying her evening. I moved a little closer to her, trying to blend in with the crowd and keep my presence unnoticed. As the night wore on, Alivia and her friends started to dance, and I could not help but smile as I watched her let loose and have fun.

However, the feeling of unease from the mysterious hooded man never quite left me, and I felt the need to keep a watchful eye on the room. I scanned the area, trying to spot anyone out of place, but everyone seemed to be having a good time. I felt a sense of relief that the man had left. However, I still had a feeling that he was up to something, and I made a mental note to keep an eye out for him in the future.

At the end of the night, I overheard Adam asking Alivia if he could walk her home and saw her face light up as she agreed happily. I couldn’t deny that Alivia had captivated the audience and showed them and me how art could be a powerful tool to bring hope when it felt like all was lost the “beauty and meaning” as she called it. As I watched Adam and Alivia stroll through the moonlight side by side, I felt a small ping inside of me. I decide to push it aside and head back to my workshop to continue with my research. Lighting a cigarette, I took a deep drag and slowly exhaled into the night air as I walked down these lonely streets, wondering what else was left in store for us all.