Four Weekends and a Funeral

by Ellie Palmer

“You’re kind of my favorite new person, if that’s not too weird a thing to say.”

“Because I was asleep—in this walking, talking, waking coma. And now I’m awake. You woke me up.”

You had a scary diagnosis and made the decision to take control of your life at a pretty big cost. You want to talk about earning things? You did something hard and brave, and you have more than earned the life you have.”

But you know what was so much more terrifying than owing a debt to the universe? Realizing it’s all random. And that’s the truth, there’s nothing to pay or prove. We’re all just living.”

“You don’t need to prove you deserve your life to me or anyone. You deserve it, because everyone does. When they die or get sick or have to get a mastectomy, it’s not because they deserve it. It’s not fair, and it’s random.