Nichole Montgomery, Military Vet Healthcare, Pen and ink, $1,100

As a military veteran navigating the complexities of the Veteran Administration (V.A.) healthcare system, I find myself trapped in a cycle of chronic pain that intensifies each day, making me feel as if I’m slowly slipping away. The relentless sting of my suffering is like a hornet, ever-present and disheartening, while the countless pills I swallow offer fleeting relief, failing to capture the deep-rooted agony embodied with me. To cope, I sometimes retreat into a circular state of disassociation, a protective mechanism that allows me to keep living despite the seemingly insurmountable weight of my pain. I cling to the hope that one day, we matter enough and I can live without chronic pain.

Website: https://www.nicholemontgomery.com/

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