Privilege: A Short Story

Privilege- a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people. Many people take life for granted and don’t realize the amount to privilege we do have. It all starts back in 2013 when you’re young and curious and don’t care what anyone says. “Patrick, Brandon, Matt; come here.” There was a different tone in my parents voices, one that isn’t comforting but you got the point that something was wrong. “Take a seat” mom says with a very uncomfortable grin. “We know you guys probably didn’t think we would ever be having this conversation.” Mom said “What” we all say in sync, looking at her very lost. “We found out that your mom has… Breast Cancer.” We looked strangely in disbelief almost as if time was slowed down. Goosebumps raced down my arms and spine; My eyes stream out tiny drops of water and I look up and realize everyone else in the room was doing the same, looking down; crying. We were all aghast at what we just heard. Days pass, trips to the doctor were way more often. We stopped eating dinner at night cause my mom was either in the hospital with my dad or at another doctor. My brothers would sometimes make eggs for me when I was hungry. Which explains why it’s hard for me to eat eggs to this day. The next morning I wake up and drag myself down the stairs and go to walk into the bathroom. I look up slowly… all of my mom’s hair was gone. All of it her eyebrows, her head had been shaved clean off. My mom wasn’t aloud to go to work just because of the way she looked. That lead to us not
having much money when we needed to pay medical bills and doctors. It was back and forth to and from the hospital and most of the time my dad would sleep there just so he could spend more time with my mom. That process went on for months. Like a circuit. Then all of a sudden my mom comes home with a big smile on her face. “What” I say, she says to me “today was my last chemo treatment I beat cancer” My Brothers overheard

and sprinted downstairs.
And my dad just walked through the door and we all jumped in for a big group hug. Life is a privilege, Don’t take it for granted. Our family treasured every second together after we realized this message. We lived our lively lives, loved every second of it and most importantly cherished our time as a family. I wish I could have cherished more time with everyone who has come and gone in my
life.