Feeling the Sunshine, Spring 2020
An EHS Student Special Feature Publication
Feeling the Sun
by Marie Burgess
I used to wake up and start my morning listening to the news, “it’s going to be a sunny day,”
“it’s a great day to go out and spend the day with your family and friends.” Now all I hear is
“don’t forget to wear your masks,” “the number of deaths has increased significantly.”
Mornings used to be happier, I used to feel energized and ready to conquer the day. Now what
time I wake up is irrelevant, every day is another tally mark. All I can do is sit there and feel the
sun creeping through my window, calling me awake.
I have to get up and do what I can while there is still light beaming in the sky. I try to keep my
tired eyes open while I complete my daily tasks that now seem more like chores. I miss the
laughter I used to share with my friends, the adventures I used to take with the ones I love,
seeing people with their busy schedules buzzing around like bees. When will I be free from
these walls that bind me? I took the simple moments for granted. I took human interaction for
granted. I stare out the window to see the flowers on the once empty tree come to life. I watch
them as they feel the sun give them purpose as it once did for me.
Afternoon melts into night like the wax streaming down a burning candle. Thoughts roll in like
tidal waves. Being alone doesn’t help anyone, there is no distractions from these demons that
haunt all of our brains sometimes. The moonlight is there to remind us that we’re not alone,
that we’re all looking up at the same moon hoping and wishing that we will be together once
again. The only thing that is left is to go to sleep and wake up to feel the sun once again.