VULNERABILITY

Chapter 1: Fractured Beginnings

Lena had always been taught that strength meant maintaining composure, no matter how heavy the burden. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind: "No one will ever respect you if they see you cry." It had become a mantra, one that shaped every decision she made, every emotion she buried. Emotions were something to control, to hide-deep within, away from the world. She had perfected this, becoming the expert at masking her feelings, walking through life like a soldier carrying a heavy load, silently, stoically.

Her childhood had been a series of tests, each one designed to prove her worth. Her mother had demanded perfection in every area-school, friendships, family. Praise was rare, but it always came with a reminder: never let your guard down. "Remember, Lena," her mother would say, "you're the strong one. You can't afford to be fragile."

But Lena had learned that perfection came at a price. Beneath the image of a flawless, composed daughter, she was suffocating. The loss of her father when she was fifteen had torn through her, but there had been no room to mourn. No time to feel. Instead, she buried herself in schoolwork, in responsibilities, in proving she could do it all. She could be the perfect daughter, the perfect friend, the perfect professional. Outwardly, she had succeeded. But inside, cracks were beginning to show.

The truth was, she had never truly grieved her father. His sudden passing had shaken her to the core, but it had also shattered her sense of stability. Her mother, lost in her own grief, had shifted the burden onto Lena, demanding that she be the "rock" of the family. The one who kept things together while everything around her crumbled. She had taken on that role without question, even though it meant sacrificing her own peace of mind. Her own needs.