Dear Papa and Mamma,

Tell me, which day was it that you assigned my future for me? What about me made you feel that I can be a good doctor? Was it written on my forehead when I came out of your womb, ma?

Papa, when I came to you in tears and told you that I cannot for the life of me understand what my science textbooks say, you didn’t even keep your newspaper down as you shouted at me for not studying hard enough. How much harder could I have studied? What could I do when equations run away from my brain? When the dissections in biology made me want to throw my guts up? When the very sight of blood makes me dizzy?

Mamma, you knew what I wanted. You knew that I dreamt of weaving magic with words. You saw me lose myself in books. You read my words and told me they are worth being read. But you didn’t back me when I needed you the most. One word, just one word of support in front of papa would have meant the world for me, ma.

You both have done a lot for me. You fed, clothed, and sheltered me. But I didn’t know that my dreams are the price I would have to pay for being brought up by you. I didn’t know that it’s a child’s duty to live her life trying to fulfil her parents’ unfulfilled wishes. I didn’t know that your desire to tell the world that your daughter is a doctor trumps my aversion to the profession and inaptitude in the subject.

I can’t keep up appearances anymore. I can’t pursue something that doesn’t evoke an iota of passion in me. I can’t live your dreams for you at the expense of mine. I can’t be a trophy for you to show off in front of the society anymore. I can’t be a doctor when I’m broken myself.

The anxiety crushes me a little more each day. Before it takes all of me, I will put an end to this charade.

Sorry for failing you twice.

From the other side,

Your daughter