Essay: Life Halted
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![Megan, 24, faces toward the window of the apartment she will have to leave by August because she can no longer afford it. As she gets ready for work, her gaze falls on the sketch a stranger in a coffee shop had drawn of her when she was still a student at Boston University, before her anxiety had forced her to drop out of school. He captured her sadness perfectly, she says.]()
Megan, 24, faces toward the window of the apartment she will have to leave by August because she can no longer afford it. As she gets ready for work, her gaze falls on the sketch a stranger in a coffee shop had drawn of her when she was still a student at Boston University, before her anxiety had forced her to drop out of school. He captured her sadness perfectly, she says.
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![A Brighton resident, Megan rides the T (one hour each way) to get to her shifts at UBurger, a quick service burger joint where she will work and serve the BU community she used to call home.]()
A Brighton resident, Megan rides the T (one hour each way) to get to her shifts at UBurger, a quick service burger joint where she will work and serve the BU community she used to call home.
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![On a busy day like any other, Megan shares a brief moment with a customer, sympathizing with the man as he waits for his wife to place her order.]()
On a busy day like any other, Megan shares a brief moment with a customer, sympathizing with the man as he waits for his wife to place her order.
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![Normally hiding her anxiety easily, Megan sits in Zaftigs, an old BU haunt for Sunday brunches. She looks at a receipt, wondering how she can justify the expense of this meal, with default notices from student loans pilling up at home.]()
Normally hiding her anxiety easily, Megan sits in Zaftigs, an old BU haunt for Sunday brunches. She looks at a receipt, wondering how she can justify the expense of this meal, with default notices from student loans pilling up at home.
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![Megan makes measured movements in the tiny UBurger kitchen on a busy Saturday. She is “expoing,” as she says, or expediting—pulling tickets and filling orders—to help her new co-workers learn the ropes.]()
Megan makes measured movements in the tiny UBurger kitchen on a busy Saturday. She is “expoing,” as she says, or expediting—pulling tickets and filling orders—to help her new co-workers learn the ropes.
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![Gustavow stands with Megan as she takes down coffee orders. Megan routinely buys everyone coffee to get them through their double shifts.]()
Gustavow stands with Megan as she takes down coffee orders. Megan routinely buys everyone coffee to get them through their double shifts.
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![Tuesdays are typically stressful for Megan, this one in particular as she juggles handling bills and calls from loan creditors, all while trying to straighten out her apartment before her roommate returns from vacation.]()
Tuesdays are typically stressful for Megan, this one in particular as she juggles handling bills and calls from loan creditors, all while trying to straighten out her apartment before her roommate returns from vacation.
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![Target pays more than she makes, Megan tells me. But it’s Red Sox season now, and this is when her tips really make it worth it she says.]()
Target pays more than she makes, Megan tells me. But it’s Red Sox season now, and this is when her tips really make it worth it she says.
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![Gustavo (left), Andrew (center), Hector (back), and DD (right), gladly pose for an impromptu photo in a rare down moment between customers. (Megan has worked with them for three years now.)]()
Gustavo (left), Andrew (center), Hector (back), and DD (right), gladly pose for an impromptu photo in a rare down moment between customers. (Megan has worked with them for three years now.)
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![Refilling the soda cooler after the busiest Saturday of the season yet, Megan berates herself for not getting the task done sooner, as is her usually routine.]()
Refilling the soda cooler after the busiest Saturday of the season yet, Megan berates herself for not getting the task done sooner, as is her usually routine.
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![Resting her feet and unwinding with a beer, Megan talks about heading out West, meeting up with her friend who teaches music in Denver.]()
Resting her feet and unwinding with a beer, Megan talks about heading out West, meeting up with her friend who teaches music in Denver.
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![At the end of her double shift, Megan walks toward the outbound T at Kenmore. She moves briskly despite over 14 hours on her feet.]()
At the end of her double shift, Megan walks toward the outbound T at Kenmore. She moves briskly despite over 14 hours on her feet.
