On a dark and rainy night, Riu's inner turmoil reached its pinnacle one fateful evening when her father's frustration erupted like a storm. The weight of his disappointment crashed upon her like thunder, questioning her very essence. "Why?" his voice thundered, echoing the torment within her. "Why can't you be like the other kids, excelling academically with straight A's and unwavering focus in class? Can't you be more like I was before, achieving grades higher than yours?"
The searing words cut through Riu's heart, leaving unseen but deeply felt wounds. The comparison to her father's past achievements, a haunting specter, intensified the pain. "When will you become a better daughter, benefiting me?" he demanded, the words hanging heavily in the air. The venomous tirade reached its zenith with a brutal declaration, "You are worthless."
The slap that followed was a physical manifestation of the emotional storm raging within her father. Reeling from the blow, Riu tasted the bitterness of failure and the sting of inadequacy. Tears welled in her eyes as she sought solace in her room, the silence more profound than any words she could utter. The dampness of the rainy night mirrored the tears staining her face as she closed the door behind her, leaving the echoes of her father's disappointment to dissipate in the shadows.
Alone in her room, Riu found herself shrouded by the oppressive weight of depression and frustration. The perennial question echoed in her mind, demanding an elusive answer. Why couldn't she experience a normal, joyous childhood like other kids? Why couldn't she bask in the glow of people's pride, even for the smallest achievements?
In the shadows of her past, Riu's present unfolded as a stark contrast due to her father's words. Her father, cousins, friends, and others seemed effortlessly adorned with natural intelligence, a quality she found elusive. In the ceaseless pursuit of excellence, she felt like a perpetual try-hard, pouring her heart into every endeavor, only to fall short time and again.
The burden of disappointment bore down on Riu as her best efforts proved insufficient to meet her father's expectations. Each shortfall deepened the chasm of inner turmoil, weaving a poignant narrative of struggle and longing. The echoes of her unfulfilled aspirations reverberated, casting a shadow on the path she tread, as the relentless cycle of trying and falling short defined her journey.
As sleep finally claimed her, tears stained her cheeks. Envy, like a persistent shadow, lingered in the recesses of her dreams, shaping a poignant narrative marked by longing and discontent.