When Cancer Became My Evidence

Summary

I knew from a young age that our family didn’t have money.

Getting sick cost money, so I wasn’t even allowed to get sick.

When I was four, I ran a high fever. Mom grabbed me and stuffed me into the freezer.

When she pulled me out, I was still conscious, blinking up at her.

My face was freezing. My tears had frozen solid.

Mom glanced at me and said irritably, “You’re just faking it to skip school. See? You didn’t die.”

After that day, I kept every discomfort to myself.

I thought Mom was right—I must have been faking it.