I didn\u2019t choose this crown.
Life handed it to me the moment I cried first.
It wasn\u2019t golden,
Rather, it was molded from responsibility\u2026 pressure\u2026 silence\u2026 and sacrifice.
And yes, I wear it well but at what cost?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see, being the eldest In the beginning, I was just a child, From that point on<\/strong>, I had to hold in my tears I\u2019ve felt guilty for dreaming too big At times, I sit in silence, asking: And what hurts most? Still, I keep showing up. There\u2019s a strange kind of purpose in this pain. Yes, I\u2019ve failed. So if you\u2019re the firstborn like me, From now on, let\u2019s give ourselves the grace After all, we are more than big brothers or big sisters. Maybe<\/strong>, just maybe, But strength should never equal silence. You are not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (17) Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n They Promised to Meet Again\u2026But Death Came First<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feels like signing a contract I never agreed to.
No one explained the terms,
Instead, things just began to change.
Little by little, I noticed the shift:
How people looked at me with different eyes.
How my mistakes echoed louder than others\u2019.
How my wins weren\u2019t celebrated instead,<\/strong> they were expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laughing freely, chasing butterflies, dreaming out loud.
Then one day,<\/strong> they called me \u201cmature\u201d while I was still scared.
They said, \u201cBe strong,\u201d
Even though I felt like breaking.
They added, \u201cSet an example,\u201d
Even when I didn\u2019t know where I was going myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because younger eyes were always watching.
I acted like I understood things I didn’t,
So that<\/strong> they wouldn\u2019t see fear in me.
Eventually<\/strong>, pretending became easier than explaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially when there were school fees to pay.
I folded my wings not because I wanted to,
But because others needed to fly first.
Yes, I\u2019ve sacrificed,
Not to appear holy,
But simply because someone had to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who takes care of the one who takes care of everyone else?
Who asks me, \u201cAre you okay?\u201d
Without already expecting the usual response: \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d
Because \u201cI\u2019m fine\u201d became my mask.
In truth, I\u2019m not always okay.
Sometimes I want to scream,
Sometimes I wish someone would hold me instead of looking up to me.
Once in a while, I want to be the one who falls apart,
Instead of always being the one picking up the pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not the long nights or the fake smiles.
Rather, it\u2019s the feeling of being forgotten,
Like they only see my role, not the person inside it.
They expect me to show up, stay strong, stay grounded,
But rarely <\/strong>ask how heavy the burden really is.
I understand everyone,
Yet<\/strong> I often feel misunderstood.
It\u2019s lonely.
It\u2019s exhausting.
It\u2019s real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I keep carrying this weight,
Not because I have to,
But because <\/strong>I love them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite everything, I\u2019ve watched my siblings thrive,
And I know my sacrifices weren\u2019t wasted.
They shine now,
And even though no one claps for me,
I know I helped light the fire in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God knows I\u2019ve stumbled.
However, every fall has taught me how to rise stronger,
For them, if not always for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I see you.
I feel you.
I stand beside you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We offer so freely to others.
Let\u2019s remember, it\u2019s okay to pause.
It\u2019s okay to cry.
It\u2019s okay not to have all the answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are humans too.
We bleed.
We hope.
We carry the world but even so<\/strong>, we still deserve rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This crown we wear, though heavy,
Lands on strong heads for a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore<\/strong>, speak.
Breathe.
Feel.
Rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n