I know a lot of people are feeling restless the longer we are forced to stay inside. I know it feels like there isn’t a reason for it. Many of you probably feel the same way I do, you miss your friends. Maybe you want stay-at-home orders to be lifted. For me, though if we lift the stay-at-home order in my state, my life is at risk. I have an immune deficiency, which means my body can’t fight infections the same way other people’s can. This is why I chose a picture that wasn’t taken by me.

My family is so scared that I might get sick, my parents won’t even let me leave the house. Instead, I chose a picture of a butterfly. Butterflies are considered symbols of hope in many cultures, and I feel like many of us are in need of some hope right now. If you’re tired of staying home, and you’re tired of the way quarantine is making you feel, remember to stay hopeful. Hope for everyone who has gotten sick to get better. Hope for everyone whose lost a love one to find closure. Hope that no matter how long we might be stuck inside, we come out on the other side stronger, and remember that while this may just be an inconvenience for you, for some of us it’s so much more than that.