Sicko

I reach into my pocket to find my tissues are solid from snot or frayed from constant usage.

My nose is running like a malfunctioning fire hydrant

But beggars can't be choosey

So I stick it out

Wipe the snot off

And glue my eyes to the work infront of me

I drown myself in my assignments before the mucus in my thoat can do it for me

I'm not sick, I'm just under the weather

This is the third or fourth time this year that I've gone to school sick

But I can't miss out

Do you know how much work I'll have to make up

A pages from Geometry Honors

Whatever my English teacher wants to throw at me

Notes for World History

Labs for Biology

And probably more

I can't afford to stay home or I'll fall behind

Like I did last year in middle school

Into the abyss of failure and worry

The grades would be too heavy to entirely pull up

I might be contagious, but I can't risk it

I don't have a fever

Yet

Yet, stress is one of the most major causes for my sickness

A cruel catalyst that follows me home from school

That breaks me down, leaving me vulnerable for the virus of the month

I wish I could have an easier time recovering

To be able to take a sick day for once and let my self have some guilt free rest

But the American education system won't let me

So I'll continue to work

Taking short breaks to blow my nose

On and on and on