I took a one-year gap year because I wasn’t doing well mentally, and when I finally decided to come back to college, I really thought I was okay this time. I thought maybe I had finally gotten my life together.
For context, I went offline for about 2 months, not by choice. I went to college and lived with the side of my family that was a part of a big religious group (I will not mention it, but it's pretty prominent).
You should take shame in destroying my life. How dare you save me when I was born to love? How dare you set me free when I was made to love? Why would you carry such a cruel thought? I just wanted to be destroyed by love. Your freedom never felt so cheap.
Definitely interested to hear from those from my generation from other countries as well: Boom boxes were prized possessions. Being able to listen to music on the beach was a real privilege. But to do it, you needed 6-12 D batteries (the big one on the right).
For three years now it has been "just us this year, Mom, you understand." Three years of me roasting a little hen alone and telling the church ladies my family keeps things quiet.