The Hand You're Dealt

<p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Lori begins college with the hope of being just another freshman. Some kids like to stand out; Lori wants to blend in. She spent much of high school being accused of faking a painful illness so she could be the center of attention. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>If only that were true. If only she could just stop.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Lori has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and is in a constant state of pain that only varies by degrees Wanting to be normal Lori tries to hide her chronic illness for as long as she can. She trusted people to support her before and learned her trust was unfounded.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>She hopes she can be Lori first her disability not at all. To hide her diagnosis until she knows she can trust people again or until the inevitable happens and she can't hide it anymore. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Dating wasn't in her plan but it feels good to be with someone who doesn't question her or treat her like an invalid. When she opens up to Dylan and tells him her whole truth he treats her like a person and not an invalid which is all Lori ever wanted. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Eventually she can't hide her pain. A minor incident to anyone else thrusts Lori into a major flare. Now is the true test. Who will stay with her when explanations become reality? Who will change? </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Lori learned to stand on her own two feet - even when she needs a cane to do it - and maybe now she won't have to stand alone.</span></p>