Breakdown, let's break it down
Two days after my parents left for the Philippines after a five-month visit, I got a text from a friend, “I’m meeting X’s friend.” It seems harmless and unsuspecting at first. I even laughed. I was not sure who X was, so I asked, Who’s X? And she replied, X, our friend. (Well, technically, X is my long-time friend from school whom I introduced to her.) When she clarified what was happening, I felt unsettled. I realized that while others seem to move forward, I am the friend who stays the same. The force of this realization was overwhelming. If there is some metamorphosis to be had, I would have taken it gladly. But I didn’t. I was thrown back in time, where I just grew complacent. With my relationships, my behaviours, and my sense of happiness. The realization shook me. The question echoed in my mind: 'How do you take space?' I wondered if it meant living boldly or shrinking to stay safe. I began to see that these choices defined how I interact with others...