Privileges~ By Kylie Silcox

The privilege of waking up
Feeling the sun hitting our face 
The privilege of getting up 
And going for a morning run ‘
The privilege of breathing the fresh air 
And not worrying about whether its clean enough 
The privilege of hanging out with friends 
And having the energy to do crazy things 
Yes I say these are privilege 
She wakes up unable to feel the sun 
The Sun only dehydrates the minimal amount of hydration in her very pale skin 
Sunscreen only contains chemicals that could make her more ill 
The energy needed to walk does not exist in her world like it once did 
A red button labeled “assistance”
has become her crutch to start her day 
The outside environment is no closer than through a protective class window 
The pollution and pollen in the outside air are deadly in her world 
The way she sees things these are all privileges 
Because she knows sooner rather than later 
One morning will be the last time she will ever see the sun


Author Bio:
Kylie Silcox is a student at Alameda High School.