ALL YOURS, DADDY
"Like no one actually sees me. They see what they want me to be. Perfect daughter, perfect student, perfect everything. But that's not me. That's not who I am."
"Who are you?" he asks quietly.
"I don't know," I admit. "That's the problem. I don't know who I am when I'm not performing for them. When I'm not trying to be what everyone expects."
He's quiet for a moment. Then: "That must be exhausting."
"It is," I whisper.
He reaches over to the side table, grabs the tissue box, and hands it to me. Our fingers brush as I take it, and the contact sends electricity through me even in the midst of my breakdown.