The Last Page

We may be young, but we don't have the luxury of feeling invincible. When one ambulance ride, hospital visit, or even prescription could mean financial ruin, the young and uninsured have to live carefully. Our situation is precarious, and we know it: we're part of the minority who wait for the walk sign before crossing the street; we cook our eggs thoroughly—not that we've known anyone with salmonella, but we don't want to risk it. And when it comes time for yearly checkups, you can bet that if we're still breathing, not bleeding, and without severe pain, we won't go. Forget dental checkups and eye exams: instead, we brush, floss, and squint. If we can read the street signs through an old pair of glasses, that's good enough for now.