San Francisco is the most beautiful place

Walking on the waterfront

Sun beaming on the bay

Twirling my skirt as it’s caught in the wind

 

Holding hands

 

Talking about nothing and laughing at everything

No destination, but we know our way home

No plans for our walk but to delight in the day

I shouldn’t be worried

 

But I’m still scared of judgement as I admire her smile

 

My doctor says I need new treatment

“Bad Diagnosis”

“Harmful Medication”

“Insurance”

“Insurance”

“Insurance”

“Insurance”

 

All I can do is thank my lucky stars

It’s covered

 

Camila has agonized

has toiled

has cried

has overcome

 

Yet for all her battles

She has another hurdle

Not one filled with roommate assignments or summer reading

But one filled with bills and coins

And dollars and cents

 

Her hard work paid off in thick letters of acceptance

But she still faces thin packets outlining financial aid

 

Elisa has to walk to school

Her dad is scared to drive

He’s never got a speeding ticket

But he’s not allowed a license

 

Elisa’s father left home for her

Slept on streets for her

Worked long nights for her

Climbed walls for her

 

But he cannot drive her to school

For fear of being frozen by ICE

 

I have faced many struggles

In this country I call home

And yet my friends face hardships

I will never understand

 

My parents both have stable jobs-

Camila’s mom does not

My parents never thought they’d lose me

For running through red lights

 

I want to say our home is GREAT

But that’s not quite the truth

Though it is indisputably

The home of the most BRAVE

Their greatest challenges are caused

by these

 

United States