I felt isolated, withdrawn, and distant from everyone including my family...
During spring break, I was unresponsive and non-verbal 90% of the time.
My parents tried to talk to me, but I kept trying to end conversations with them. Thinking they won't be concerned...
But despite everything, they couldn't help me smile or get over my failures and disappointment from this semester...
On the 4th day of spring break, Alexa and her parents decided to go to a small Chinese restaurant owned by Alexa's mom's friend. Alexa tried so hard to pretend everything was fine and she was thriving in academics even though she was barely passing. Her mom's friend Mimi was excited to see the family stopping by for lunch.
Mimi: If it isn't my lovely friend Summer...How are you and your family? Living a good life?
Alexa's mom: Hey! Of course we are, Mimi. We just picked up our daughter Alexa from her uni for spring break.
Mimi: Oh, this is your daughter? What a pretty girl she is! How old is she?
Alexa's mom: She's about to be 20 soon.
Mimi: Wow, she's the same age as my daughter then. They can make really good friends!
Mimi: I'll be back with your drinks and orders in 30 minutes!
She walked back to the kitchen. Alexa's dad noticed the resting bitch face on Alexa's face again and wanted to encourage her to not look sulky.
Alexa's dad: Alexa, why don't you smile more? You're home during spring break...No uni classes for a week.
Alexa's mom: You should be happy to be home. I know you were struggling with C++, so are you doing more coding like your dad asked you to?
Alexa: She answered with a hint of annoyance in her voice. Yes, mom...I am.
Alexa's mom: Oh, how many snippets did you do?
Alexa: She raised her voice a bit. I did 30 this time.
Alexa's mom: Whoo hoo, yay! You're not giving me an attitude are you?
Alexa: Uh, no mom. I'm not.
Alexa's mom: But you're raising your voice at me. That's not good. Me and your dad came all the way to pick you up from your uni...
Alexa's mom: Tell me...no one else can do that for you. You need to think about how you conduct yourself around people, Alexa. Especially your family.
Alexa's mom: Kind of makes us feel like shit. Like you don't care.
Alexa: It's not that I don't care. It's just that it's hard for me to open up.
Alexa's mom: She sighed disappointedly. We truly don't expect much from you, Alexa. If you don't pass C++ class, it's on you. Really.
Alexa's mom: All we ask from you is for you to express yourself and show that you care. You're about to be 20...I don't know what we should do about you anymore.
Alexa's mom: You never smile at us or approach us with warmth. How are you supposed to survive in the future with that cold attitude of yours?
Alexa's dad: Ok, ok...Summer. I think you said enough. It's obvious Alexa isn't happy about her grade in C++ and wants to improve.
Alexa's dad: Let's not make a fuss about this. We're at your friend's restaurant.
Alexa's mom: Why are you always defending her? This is why she never learns.
YOU ARE READING
Fire Meets Ice
RomanceAlexa Winifred is a 22-year-old young woman had just moved from Denver, Colorado to Stockholm, Sweden to begin her first year at her graduate school in Stockholm University. She had hopeless experiences with love and an unstable relationship with he...
