"Believe you can and you're halfway there."- Theodore Roosevelt.
Both of us went downstairs together. Throughout the way, Ivy looked quite nervous. I saw Ivy's hand were shaking so badly. I glanced at her, giving her a smile and said, "Everything is going to be fine."
Joshua, Jeremy and Ivy's parents glanced at us as we walked downstairs. Ivy sat on the chair at the end of the living room. I put my hand on her shoulder, signaling her to let her sorrows out. Sometimes, we need to share the burden and sorrows together. Ivy looked at me, gave me a weak smile before she began to say something. Her eyes scanned around the living room and she finally stared at her parents.
She cleared her throat before began her sentence.
"Mom. Dad... Joshua, and also Alannah... First of all, I wanted to apologize for the troubles I caused. I am sorry. I have been so lost and helpless for the past months. I had no energy and will to communicate with anyone at that time." She stopped for a second and said, "I want to share and confess something to you, mom and dad. I want to tell you about all the feelings I have been suppressed all this while. I don't think I can pretend that I am fine anymore." She sobbed.
I looked around to see everyone's reaction. Ivy's parents looked stunned and their eyes filled with sorrow. Joshua wiped his tears meanwhile Jeremy patted his back, whispering encouraging words for him to be strong in front of Ivy.
"I... I think it is time for me to express my feelings and how I felt throughout the years. So I hope that everyone listen to what I'm saying and understands me." She said.
Ivy parents nodded, trying to empathize with her. Throughout the talk, they nodded, listened intently. Ivy told her parents what she felt and she cried as she continued her talk.
"I... To be honest, sometimes I tried to understand what is happening in my life and how to overcome this. I had been stressing over this issue for a while. Because I felt like everything I did was wrong and did not get approval from both of you. I don't know but I felt like... this issue will affecting my mental health in future."
She paused for a few seconds before continuing her sentence, "Mom... Dad... Please... try to understand me just once..."
I patted her back, hoping her to calm down soon. I cleared my throat, "um... I am sorry for interrupting this talk but... I agree with Ivy's point of view. I think we really need to help and give support to her. Her condition right now may be a bit worrying. I am sure that everyone here does not want anything bad happen to Ivy, right?"
I stopped for a second, observing other people's reaction, "Well, I think we should talk about it and let it solve as soon as we can. A mutual understanding between family members are important, right? A family needs to have a mutual understanding and in harmony."
Ivy parents nodded in agreement. Auntie Flora gave a warm smile and replied, "Yes, we want the best for our daughter. I guess this is the time for us to compromise with each other and understands each other's thoughts and feelings."
We don't openly express our feelings to our family. We just assume that they'll understand us. That is what mostly happen between family members and we want to break that cycle.
The next few hours were filled with discussions, thoughts and sharing our feelings with each other. It went better than expected. I sighed in relief as I saw Ivy looked calm and relaxed. I am glad and proud of her. My best friend, Ivy expressed all her thoughts without any hesitation and backed her thoughts with evidence and also my support.
"I hope both you and dad understand me. Sometimes, I felt lonely and unable to express my thoughts because of how I was brought up since I was little." Ivy said.
She paused for a few seconds before continuing her sentence, "Mom, Dad... I understand why both of you are acting like this. I know that you love me and want to protect me. But sometimes, I feel a bit nervous and anxious that I can't do anything on my own as an adult... I am scared that I am not able to grow into an independent person and live my whole life in my own world. Living in my room for a long time... Stuck in the same place without being able to explore the world, and also my potential..."
"Wouldn't my life be meaningless if I kept on doing this routine for the rest of my life? Every day, I'm getting anxious and overthinking about my life. To be honest, I always had this kind of feeling back in high school but it got worse ever since I graduated from university. " Ivy said.
Ivy ruffled her hair, biting her nails and exclaimed, "To be honest, I... I... really don't know how I am supposed to feel anymore! I feel so suffocated! I feel like wanting to disappear from this mess!"
