The invisible struggles

Resilience

The afternoon sun bathed the university campus in a golden light as Lucas, Elena, Maya, and Alexander found themselves under the soothing shade of a large oak tree. It was a place they had often gathered in recent months—a refuge where they shared their inner struggles and found mutual support in their unlikely friendship.

Lucas broke the heavy silence that enveloped the group. "So, did you talk to your parents?" Elena nodded slowly, a soft but tired smile on her face. "Yes, I did. It was... difficult, but my mother finally understood. She said she would be there for me no matter what I was going through." Maya bit her lower lip, her eyes avoiding those of the others. "I spoke to my parents, too. At first, they didn't take it seriously. They thought it was just a phase. But after I explained how much it affected my daily life, they began to understand."

Alexander, sitting next to her, sighed deeply. "My sisters laughed at first. They said anorexia was a girl's disease. But when I explained how I almost put my life in danger because of it, they finally listened."

Lucas looked at each of them with admiration and compassion. "You all did something brave. Talking about our innermost demons to those we care about is not easy."

Elena gently placed her hand on Lucas's. "And you, Lucas? Have you spoken to your mother?"

Lucas lowered his eyes for a moment before raising them, a glimmer of resolution in his gaze. "Yes, I did. She... she was surprised at first, but then she began to understand how much my anger affected me. She said she would help me find a solution."

A comfortable silence settled between them as they reflected on the challenges they had faced and the steps they had taken together. The wind gently rustled through the oak's leaves, bringing a touch of coolness to the hot summer air. "We all have our struggles," Maya began, breaking the silence again. "But I'm grateful that I don't have to face them alone."

Alexander nodded, a warm smile lighting up his face. "Yes, we're a team now. We've been through so much together."

Elena turned to Lucas with affection. "Lucas, you are strong. We're here to help you through whatever comes next."

Lucas smiled softly, feeling a weight lift from his heart. "Thank you, Elena. Thank you all."

Maya looked at her friends with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Why didn't any of you talk to your parents earlier?"

Elena sighed softly, playing with a lock of her hair. "It's not that I never spoke to my mother. I always told her how I felt, but... she always pushed me to please others, to follow trends, to be accepted. It's like my words were never really heard."

Lucas nodded, his eyes reflecting deep sadness. "That's right. Sometimes our loved ones think these are just phases that will pass on their own. Or maybe they think we're just too sensitive or too weak psychologically to handle things."

Alexander, his face darkened with gloom, added, "I asked for help before, but no one took me seriously. It wasn't until I started feeling significant discomfort and doctors told my parents my life was in danger that they really began to fear."

Maya listened attentively, feeling a mix of emotions rise within her. "It's so unfair. We fight with our own demons, and sometimes, we also feel alone in our fight."

Elena placed a comforting hand on Maya's shoulder. "But now we have each other. We understand what it's like to feel unheard, to feel invisible."

Lucas nodded resolutely. "Exactly. We won't let this happen again. We're here to support each other, to listen, and to act when necessary."

Alexander offered a weak smile. "We're stronger together. We've already been through so much, and we'll continue to support each other through difficult times."

Maya felt enveloped by their solidarity, grateful to have them by her side. "Thank you, friends. I'm so grateful to have you in my life."

Lucas listened to his friends with a serious expression before taking a deep breath and speaking. "You know, for my mother, my tantrums and violent outbursts were seen as a simple teenage crisis. She thought I'd eventually grow out of it, that it was just a phase."

He shook his head with a hint of resignation. "The problem is that my mother and the rest of my family knew what was going on at home. They saw the arguments and the consequences of the violence. But no one really wanted to intervene. I had to fend for myself."

Maya gently placed her hand on Lucas's shoulder, her gaze full of compassion. "Lucas, it's so difficult. You had to carry all of this on your own."

Lucas nodded slowly, feeling a little relieved to finally share this part of his story with friends who truly understood him. "Yes, it was difficult. But now that I have all of you, I feel less alone."

Elena smiled softly. "We're here for you, Lucas. We're a team, we're a family now."

Alexander nodded, his gaze reflecting renewed determination. "Exactly. Together, we are stronger. We won't let our struggles be ignored or minimized."

Lucas felt moved by their support, grateful to have found such compassionate and dedicated friends. "Thank you, friends. Thank you for being there for me, for listening, and for understanding."

They all hugged each other in a warm embrace, letting friendship and solidarity envelop them in a comforting cocoon. In this moment of deep connection, they knew they could count on each other to face all the trials to come. Together, they were a united force, ready to tackle the challenges of university life and beyond, armed with mutual understanding, unwavering support, and a determination to never give up.