Death is an odd concept that humans tend to ignore until it is shoved down their throat. As a child you think your parents are going to be around forever, as a teen you wish your parents would go away. As an adult you wish your parents would let you be your own person. And yet I’m 15 wishing my parents wouldn’t need to sleep, so we could stay in the living room talking forever. At 15 I am burdened with the thought of time. The countdown. The inevitable. Every time I look at her I see a countdown above her head. Every time I look at her I don’t want to look away. Yet I still do because we act as if there isn’t a ticking time bomb in her body. We act and pretend. They want to open up, they want me to talk about it. Talking does nothing but make people cry. Crying is too much. Makes everything weird. Understanding others is easy, comforting them is weird and a waste of time, because if I can handle it on my own so could they. So why am I left to pick up the pieces? Only left with the answer of “you asked the question” I need logic. I need to numb. If they want me on my meds they get numb. They created this. Yet it’s still on me. I take full responsibility even when I shouldn’t. At 15 I am burdened with a lifetime of disappointment. Yet at 15 preparing for my mothers departure from this world is easily the hardest. And no one cares because I play it off, people think I’m too casual about it, people think I’m lying or joking, I’m not. At 15 no one wants to believe you could not care about yourself if not for the benefit of others. Yet at 15 that’s how I feel.
Welcome to the Cardinal Collection! We are the Literary Magazine, and this year we are working with the Newspaper to bring you our magazine! Our magazine is a collection of fictional writing pieces and art submitted by students. Our collection works a little differently than the Newspaper. We accept submissions not just from members of the club, but also from the student body in general! No commitment, no stress, no extra club. This is an easy way to get published! We accept poetry, short stories, excerpts, and art! Scan the QR code or visit the form here to submit your works. You must be logged on to your AACPS email to submit. And if you would like to join our club to help edit and put together the collection, stop by room A233 on Thursdays during Red Week!
