Mia Lasic-Ellis

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on and I wake up in the morning and hope for the sun.

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on and I worry if my shirt will fit me right today, about the taste of my coffee and leaving the house at exactly 6:45.

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on. And children are dying and their siblings are laying flowers on their graves.

And I’m asked to manage my anger, to sympathize with a monster.

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on and Re: Please Remember to Submit Your Homework On Time.

And I have to breathe in for four seconds and breathe out for five and I lose track of time.

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on and every passing day is a tragedy and everyday my people are dying regardless of who is giving their death sentences.

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on and I’m baking a cake on Thursday night.

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on and sometimes I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay (and that’s fine).

The world keeps ending and the world keeps going on and my bones are filled with grief and my chest can no longer contain my tears and screams get caught in my throat.

— and I love my people so much my skin burns, I hold them close to my chest and I can’t let go.

And the world keeps ending,

But the world keeps going on.

Yusur Jasim is a member of the Class of 2025.