i'm the daughter who never says anything to my family, who is never asked whether i'm okay or not. honestly, sometimes i wish they would. sometimes i wish someone at home would look at me and ask, "how are you, really?" because there is so much i keep inside. there are so many moments when i want to open up about my hard days, my tired mind, and the weight i carry every day. but instead, i stay quiet. i pretend everything is fine because i hate the idea of being a burden. i try to convince myself that my feelings aren't a big deal, even though i know they are. so i've learned to heal in private. i wipe my own tears and find ways to comfort myself. ive become strong in silence, even when it's the loneliest thing in the world.