Mei Lin sat at the small, wooden table in her family's modest dining room, the soft hum of the bustling street outside gently filtering through the half-open window. The light of the morning sun poured in, casting warm hues across the room but failing to penetrate the coldness that had settled in her heart. She meticulously arranged the colorful dishes for breakfast, a family tradition that she had performed countless times before. Her movements were precise, almost robotic, as she attempted to mask the turmoil brewing inside her.
At 20 years old, Mei Lin had always been the dutiful daughter. She excelled in her studies, followed her parents' wishes, and wore a smile that rarely slipped. To the world outside, she was a model child, the kind of daughter that parents would brag about, but inside, she felt like a prisoner in her own life. Her family owned a small but steady manufacturing business, and Mei Lin had been groomed to take over since she was old enough to understand the word "responsibility."
"Mei Lin, don't forget to review the quarterly reports today!" her mother called from the other room, her voice filled with a mixture of urgency and excitement.
"Yes, Mama," Mei Lin replied, her tone betraying none of her internal struggles. She tried to focus on her mother's demands, but as her eyes wandered to the street below, she felt a sharp wave of longing wash over her. Beyond those concrete walls lay a world of possibilities, laughter, and adventure that seemed tantalizingly out of reach.
Her brother Hajime was the family's golden child, having fast-tracked his way to becoming the youngest CEO of a prestigious tech company. Though he was often cold and imposing, there was an underlying warmth reserved solely for Mei Lin. She cherished their bond, yet she felt the weight of expectations pressing down on her more heavily when she compared herself to him. He had taken the path of ambition and leadership, while her path seemed laid out like a well-trodden road through a foggy forest—predictable and suffocating.
As the day dragged on, her parents talked about the upcoming business presentation, detailing every aspect of what was expected of her. Every conversation was a reminder that her life was not her own, but a series of obligations to uphold the family name. It was overwhelming, and she felt a flicker of rebellion spark within her.
What if she made a different choice? What if she didn't want to inherit the weight of their small business? The thought felt both exhilarating and terrifying. Behind her polite demeanor, an urgency began to build—a desire for freedom that clashed violently with her parents' expectations.
That evening, after dinner, she found herself in her room, surrounded by textbooks stacked high, remnants of the life she was expected to lead. Sighing softly, she picked up her sketchbook, pages filled with drawings of fantastical landscapes and dream-like scenarios. Each stroke of her pencil was an escape, allowing her to envision a life unencumbered by obligations.
"Mei Lin!" her father called from down the hall. "It's time to set your priorities straight. The family needs you."
Those words echoed in her mind, resonating like the toll of a heavy bell. She couldn't help but wonder, What of her own needs? What about her dreams? The pressure was relentless. And in that moment, sitting in her room, she made a silent vow to herself. She would find a way to break free.
As Mei Lin closed her sketchbook, her heart raced with thoughts of running away, of breaking free from the chains of her predetermined future. But as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, she was met with an unsettling reality—how could she escape a life plotted by others when she was uncertain of her own path?
The shadows in her room deepened as she turned off the light, and Mei Lin's dreams that night were shrouded in clouds of uncertainty and fear, reflecting the very weight she longed to escape.