The Body’s Betrayal

Dear Delyara, I used to be an athlete. Now, I have to sit down after walking up the stairs. My body feels like a house I’m being evicted from. I look in the mirror and I don't see "me"; I see a list of symptoms and a collection of scars. I’m so angry at my own cells for failing me. People tell me to "stay positive," but positivity feels like a lie I’m telling to make them feel more comfortable with my reality. I’m tired of being a "warrior." I just want to be a person again.