I planned the visits alone,
booked the trains,
walked the campuses
with questions I didn’t know how to ask.

My parents stayed at home,
not out of neglect,
just…
it never occurred to any of us,
that they would come.

Everyone was proud,
though they didn’t quite understand why,
watching me leave,
with “Her life is going somewhere good”,
shining on their faces.

Other families carried notebooks,
asked about libraries and laundry,
I carried myself,
my mental health,
and my achievement,
the heaviness leaving strap marks in my shoulders.

I folded my fear into my backpack,
shoved it down, right beside my notebook,
and under the resilience no one sees.

I was scared of getting lost,
no one I love had a map to give me,
and still, I went.

I could not, would not, complain.
I was lucky, I am lucky,
I was the first in line.

REF: W-17062025-04