The Weight of Staying
I never thought i would feel this kind of loneliness, being left out. Not until I reached college. Back in senior high school, I never felt this way. I felt accepted. Even if i wasn’t that close with my classmates, I still felt like I belonged. I survived those years because of them. They carried me, guided me, and helped me get through everything. But now, things feel different. People can say the right words, but their actions don’t always match. And somehow, that hurts more. One of the reasons I come home so drained from university is because it feels like my energy is constantly being taken from me. 'Yung parang hinihigop nila 'yung energy mo? Gano'n 'yun. Like I give too much of myself just to fit in, just to stay included, until there’s nothing left. I lose motivation. I feel weak. I feel tired in a way that sleep can’t fix. Sometimes, I feel like a lost child, someone who doesn’t even know why she’s there anymore. Yes, I have a circle of friends. I si...