The world has changed. A virus swept across the globe, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction that few could have predicted. People were forced to adapt to a new way of life, one defined by isolation and fear. And yet, amidst all this uncertainty and chaos, there remained pockets of hope - small communities that banded together to weather the storm.
As the sun began to set on the small town of Millfield, Indiana, a palpable sense of excitement filled the air. The annual fall festival was just hours away and everyone in town had been eagerly anticipating it for weeks. The streets were lined with vendors selling all sorts of goodies from funnel cakes to homemade fudge, while children ran around excitedly clutching brightly colored balloons. For 16-year-old Emma Thompson, this year's festival held an extra dose of anticipation - she was finally old enough to enter her prized pumpkin into the annual pumpkin carving contest.
