Natalie Arber, Not Human (PEOPLE 2025)

Overcome with exhaustion in a life where respite is a nothing more than a pipe dream, I no longer can withstand the inanimacy. With a known risk of exposing myself to words of destruction, I am desperate to breathe and quietly hope this time they really have changed. I plead for an oxygen mask - a break from the noise and a timeline to when it will stop but I don’t dare ask for more. I no longer advocate to live; although merely existing is killing me. As I am on my knees, my emotional output disturbed their peace and I am reminded that I am not human. I am no stranger to the words (and words that imply) that my expectations are too high and as I am subjected to an alternate reality and irrelevant historical events mismatched to my own truth, the confusion and grief overwhelm my brain and body and I shut down.

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