It’s currently 2:03 in the afternoon. I still feel the exhaustion from yesterday’s event. I thought of writing this piece from a personal point of view simply because it came to mind while I was tired. "It must be nice to have someone to reach out to when life gets rough,” I thought. And indeed, it must feel like a burden off your shoulders. For even if we may appear strong to everyone else, there should always be someone who will witness and hold you through your vulnerabilities. I’m not the kind of person who asks for help or rants. I tend to isolate myself, push myself to my limits, and bottle up whatever frustrations I have towards life. As a result, I receive awards and recognition for all my efforts in school. But at the end of the day, I’ll always look for someone. Not because I was lonely. In fact, many people around me support me, like my friends, classmates, teachers, and my parents. It just wasn’t the kind of support I was looking for. I’m not being selfish. I appreciate all the love and support; I really do. But there’s still some kind of gap in me that I cannot comprehend. Maybe it was because I see other people having a significant person they can always run to. I don’t have that person yet. I have no plans to enter a relationship while I’m still studying, but I see the beauty of choosing who you’ll love. Someone who will understand you no matter what season in life you are going through. A person who will say, “You did great today. Get some rest.” Someone willing to experience the rest of their life with you. I also think that’s the importance of choosing who to love in the future—because at the end of the day, you’ll look for someone. A source of comfort in fragility—a flicker of hope when life tries to bring you down. This piece isn’t because I am longing for a relationship, but a simple reflection of how choosing someone to love can greatly affect us. — ms. kae 09.05.26