• By Julian Davila-Morquecho (he/him)
  • Art “Ghastly Grasping” by Grace Schuck (she/her)

Days start with anxious breath, ending in superficial respite from the burdensome delight. A singing ring, declaring the valued and unheard intertwined within one of the most delicate aspects of life.

Some can view it all and only see onus, yet those who take pride in it see future fortune. Not to gain wealth but to spread it. They learned it all before only to learn it all again. Mentors’ extracted appreciation of trivial whiffs, filled with oily processed nourishment. What else could you expect when held responsible for the future’s mental nourishment?

Like anyone else full of self-doubt, yet through the rubble, they find new life. Stacking every hardship so pristinely their librarian would be proud. A birth or spark, whatever one sees does not take away from that fresh, mental breeze. Those lingering sets of uninformed eyes gleefully following their every thought.

A job that is so often belittled, is in truth the one job that deserves neverending praise.

A clock that is forgotten, yet through it all it keeps on tik-toking to show the time to all that clock in.

An insufferable process that leads to irrefutable contentment, how cruel is this delight? ▲