Thoughts by Hannah Michelle

Content warning: suicide.  Sixteen years. Sixteen birthdays. Sixteen Christmases. Sixteen periods of 365 days. Days filled with joy, days filled with pain, day after day that went by. What is October 15th, anyways? And why did you choose this day to leave, to die, to have this be your finality? Sixteen years. You’d think sixteen years would be long enough to process. Time is supposed to heal wounds, that’s what they say, right? But the more time passes, the more you miss.  ---------- I have learned through these years that it’s not necessarily in the highs and the lows that I miss my dad. Sure, there are moments I am filled with joy that I wish I could share with him or moments that I deal with difficult news I wish I could ask him for guidance, but honestly? If I could choose any hour of my life to spend with my dad, it’d just be an hour talking, maybe sharing a meal, maybe meeting a friend.  You see, honestly, I don’t remember much of my dad. That used to be one of my b...

Yes, as it draws to a close for me today, I am technically talking about “this” summer of 2020. However, I have a feeling this summer will be referred to as “that” summer. “That summer” of the pandemic.   “That summer” of civil unrest.   “That summer” of change.   … “That summer” Lebron won another championship (fingers crossed).   In times of transition, I think it is natural to reflect. This past week, I have been reflecting on many things, but specifically on this summer and how much it has changed me. Living through a pandemic, its economic fallout, and watching racial inequities “come to light” has been challenging for many, to say the least.   Yes, the pandemic obviously impacted me and changed my life. I was supposed to be moving, and my entire plan for college changed again. However, I have to be thankful each day that I and my loved ones have remained healthy so far. No matter how down I can feel somedays about my plans changing, I have to remember how ...