A place for stories about chronic illness, disability, mental health, and neurodivergence.

Application for Disability 

By

To whom it may concern:
(Please believe, i
Don’t lie)

my body
Truly refuses to
Participate and 
Denies me. 

my mind,
Tantalizing me,
Pretends i can,
Despite that i can’t. 

my spirit,
Tortured by
Practicality,
Despises my limitations. 

my life,
Tragic to you, 
Projects little more 
Despondency than yours. 

my heart
Tried to kill me, but 
Produced a wound that is
Disguised to your sight. 

Trust me when i say,
(Please, don’t make me explain)
Disability is not a choice. 

Trying to live,
Pretending i’m fine,
Denied by you,

Teaching you,
Pandering to you,
Dissuaded by you,

This is my application,
Persuasive essay,
Didactic cry to be heard. 

i am 
Totally and
Permanently 
Disabled. 

thank you for your consideration. 

Contributor

  • April McCloud [she/her] is a 1% bionic human hailing from Rochester, NY. She’s a librarian, educator, and opinionated black belt who worships her cat and hopes to be reincarnated as a red panda. Her CNF work “Unpacking” has been released in The Black Fork Review and her debut novel is forthcoming from Rebel Satori Press.