It made me sad to look at my fingers, so I looked out the window instead.
There was a phrase my nohkom used when she was alive, but I can’t remember the words just now, only that it was about wanting things to be one way when they were another.
“Deep breaths.” Kay’s hand on my thigh. “Not the end of the world.”
No, an autoimmune diagnosis was not the end of the world. Rheumatoid arthritis is not earth-shattering, like some diagnoses received at 29.
But I am young, and even swollen joints feel terribly unfair when you’re young.
About the Creator
Jennifer A. G.
🇨🇦 Canadian Writer, Painter & Embroidery Artist
♾️ Métis Nation
🎓 University of Victoria Alumna
📝 Publications: The Malahat Review, Freefall Magazine, Geist, Best Canadian Poetry 2026
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Comments (1)
That does seem totally unfair 😢