I haven't slept much at all the past couple of days because I'm legitimately happy, relieved and optimistic for the first time in almost a year and don't want it to stop, even for a little while. I'm kinda realizing right now that I've been deeply depressed since the pandemic started and have just learned to cope with a bad situation.
Last night was something very different. When Biden won, it just felt like we dodged a bullet. But this time...we really scored a victory. Things can change. And it's been a long, long time since I've felt that way.
And no, nothing tangible will change overnight. The pandemic will keep getting worse until it doesn't. Systemic racism will continue. There is still an opposition party and tens of millions of absolutely batshit people to hold things up. But what did change overnight is that the door has opened again.