i'm the daughter who never says anything to my family. who is never asked whether i'm okay or not, even when i wish someone would. sometimes i just want to hear, "how are you, really?" because there's so much i keep inside. i pretend everything is fine because i don't want to trouble anyone. i tell myself my feelings aren't that important, even when they are. so i learned to take care of myself, wipe my own tears, and calm my own worries, and stand up again even when no one sees it. ive gotten used to being strong in silence, even when it hurts.