Arlon and Liliana - Love in The Midst of Family Feud

Arlon's Dilemma - Caught Between Two Sides

The air in the room was thick with tension as Arlon's parents called him for a long, solemn discussion. Arlon's anxiety levels began to rise as his parents presented a barrage of testing questions, each one sending a jolt through his autistic mind. He struggled to find the words to respond, his thoughts a swirling storm. Arlon's heart pounded in his chest, his palms becoming clammy with nervousness. He desperately wished for a moment of clarity to articulate his feelings and thoughts, but the overwhelming pressure made it increasingly difficult. The weight of expectation hung heavy in the room, intensifying the already suffocating tension.

Arlon's mother, her tone gentle yet probing, began by asking, "Arlon, what is it that Liliana has that your father, your younger brother, and I don't have? We want to understand, so we can try our best to give it to you."

Arlon hesitated, his words coming out in stutters as he struggled to express himself. "Acceptance for who I am as an autistic person," he finally managed to reply.

His father chimed in, his voice tinged with regret. "We're sorry, Arlon, but we can't tolerate your autism. It's not okay with us."

Arlon's mother interjected, "We're doing this because we're thinking about your future. You're not autistic. You're just different, and we believe that by trying to change you, it will make your life easier in the long run."

"But...but why can't you accept me for who I am?" he managed to ask, his voice trembling. His mother sighed deeply, her tone filled with frustration.

"Arlon, we love you, but we want what's best for you. We think that if you conform to societal norms, it will open more doors for you in the future."

Arlon's heart sank even further, feeling like an outsider in his own family. "I don't want to change who I am," he whispered, struggling to make them understand.

Arlon's heart sank as he realised his parents' lack of understanding and acceptance. He yearned for the day when they would embrace him for who he truly was, autism and all. He had always hoped that his parents would educate themselves about autism and learn to appreciate the unique perspective he brought to the world. However, their words crushed his spirit and made him feel like an outsider in his own family. Despite the hurt, Arlon vowed to stay true to himself and find a community where he would be accepted and celebrated for his differences. Arlon's father pressed on, asking about other qualities Liliana possessed that they lacked.

"Understanding," Arlon replied simply.

His mother responded, "We try our best to understand you, but that doesn't mean we'll tolerate your odd mannerisms."

Arlon took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "It's not about tolerating, Mom," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's about accepting and embracing who I am, just like you do with Liliana."

His father's expression softened as he listened to Arlon's words. "Son, we love you no matter what," he said gently. "We just want you to be happy."

Arlon nodded, appreciating his father's support. "I understand that, Dad," he replied. "But being happy means being true to myself and finding a community where I belong."

Again, his father inquired about other attributes Liliana had.

"True friends," Arlon said.

His father contended, "If Liliana and her friends were true friends, they'd encourage you to be normal, not coddle or infantilize you because of your autism."

Arlon countered, "They teach me life skills, just like the Montessori school, without constant criticism and nagging like you do."

His father's response was stern, "It's natural to be nagged to have you corrected. If you don't want to be nagged, do things right."