Written by Joe DiPersio (He/Him) and illustrated by Bianca Oppedisano (She/Her) / Mass Media Staff

Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

A: Have you ever stared directly into the sun? They say you shouldn’t do it, but the temptation just proves too much to resist at times. In order to wake up, it’s implied that one would need to have slept. I don’t sleep. Not anymore. Every time I close my eyes to the world, I open them to the bright, blistering fires of my inner mind. A blinding light, hotter than a million suns. A glimmering beacon of “hope” radiating a beam of pure nightmare fuel across the rocky coastline of this hellscape we call reality. But on the rare occasions that I do fall victim to the clutches of sleep, you wanna know what I do when I wake up? I brush my teeth, lace my shoes and put on a big ol’ smile. Go UMass Boston! For the times, baby!