COVID-19 has had the nation, and the rest of the world, petrified. The risk of catching it, and the devastation it’s left in its wake everywhere it’s gone, have been horrifying. But with the economy teetering on the brink of collapse, some have decided that they just can’t wait for quarantine to be over.

Wandering Traders have begun to protest outside federal buildings all over the country, demanding that the economy open back up. With the emerald trade coming to a screeching halt, many villagers have been unable to make ends meet.

“Hmm.” One trader said to us, in an exclusive interview. “Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.”

“Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.”

A heart-wrenching story, but is reopening the economy in this dangerous time really the answer? With many small nonessential businesses struggling, it really is life or death for some of them.

It’s easy to paint some of these merchants as stupid and dangerous with their rhetoric, but are they not victims also in all this? Aren’t the merchants at the very top, that control all of emerald trade internationally, really to blame for everyone living emerald to emerald in this world?

We’re all in this together, but some traveling merchants really have it a lot nicer than others. Really makes you think.