I’m 18 years old. Eighteen. Seems pretty young. Yet amazingly, I’m already halfway through my life expectancy. Living with vascular EDS and severe lupus is awful. I’m not going to lie: it is terrible. I’m in the hospital more often than not, I’m in constant pain. Not to mention my grades are slipping and I’m a constant disappointment to my family. I was supposed to be a bright student, in her prime, learning my fourth language, making her family proud, living her best life. Instead I’m dying. Literally. Dying. The hospital staff know me by name: that’s how bad it’s gotten. I’m just wondering; whats the point when I’m going to die anyway? How do you stay positive and keep wanting to go on in life despite knowing it’s going to be so short, and so painful?