Health Warrior

Dear Delyara, Round four of chemo. My hair is gone, but my spirit is putting up a hell of a fight. I’m tired of being 'brave.' I’m tired of people looking at me with pity. I just want to talk about something other than blood counts and hospital food. I wrote this letter to my healthy self—the one who took long walks and didn't think about breathing. I’m telling her to wait for me. I’m coming back for her. I am leaving the 'patient' identity in this archive. Tonight, I am a writer. I am a dreamer. I am more than my diagnosis.