The Burden She Never Asked For

The Burden She Never Asked For | @bratwrites*

Being the eldest daughter was never about money.

It was about being the second mother when Mom was tired.
The mediator when everyone was fighting.
The role model who was not allowed to make mistakes.
The strong one who was not allowed to get tired.

They always said, "You're the eldest. You should understand."

So she did. She understood. She sacrificed. She stayed strong.

Until she forgot how to be anything else.

She was everyone's home, but she had nowhere to go when she was falling apart.

Then he came.

He didn't need her to be strong. He didn't need her to fix everything. He just wanted her to rest.

"You've been carrying everyone for so long. Let me carry you this time."

For the first time in her life, someone asked her, "How are you?" and actually waited for an honest answer.

But can she learn to be loved without guilt? Can she choose herself without feeling like she's abandoning her family?

A slow-burn romance about family expectations, eldest daughter syndrome, and finding love that feels like coming home.