Jiya was the only child of her parents. She was like a princess in a castle. Owner of every need and luxury the children of her age could dream of.

However, her heart was filled with loneliness. It was empty, as she was expected to behave just as a princess should, despite her nature being a contradiction.

She was supposed to be perfect, smile even when sad, hide the tears, never throw tantrums, accept whatever is provided without complaint, never share your opinion, never speak loudly, be a topper in academics, learn art and culture, and sit at home.

"You are not a boy, you should learn to behave! " her mother used to say

This was the price of her crown. Her heart was empty, and soon, her shining innocent eyes, which followed every word of her parents to please them, turned empty as well. Every mistake had grave results.

Every rebuke continued to break her fragile heart, which had never received love. Finally, she broke.

Jiya's first failed suicide attempt was when she was in 7th grade. The young teen of thirteen couldn't withstand the trauma of getting 50% in Maths. Strange, isn't it?

She was rushed to the Hospital from school. This finally brought the attention of her parents towards their daughter they had abandoned years ago.

After a therapy session, her parents learnt that their daughter, whom they thought was too mature for her age, was actually trying to get their affection by trying to be perfect. They decided to give her the love they should have.

Now, after so many years they finally tried to be good parents for once. But it was too late now.

Her eyes continued to lose their shine; her heart continued to shatter. Various dark thoughts ran through her mind

"Maybe I'm not good enough "

"Maybe I never was"

"I'm a disgrace "

"I'm unlovable"

"Maybe my existence is cursed"

"Maybe I am a mistake "

"MAYBE I NEVER SHOULD HAVE EXISTED !"

These thoughts came, time and again. The pressure to be perfect has broken her too much already. Now even love can't fix her back.

She started keeping physical distance from her parents. Even from the smallest touch, she would flinch and run away. Refuse hugs and kisses. Slowly she even reduced talking. She would only reply to what was necessary.

In school, her friends left her after the suicide incident. But that was not the last incident. She tried to kill herself multiple times in school, in classes and at home. Every time she survived.

As Jiya entered 9th grade* she changed schools. A new school where no one knew her and she knew no one.

'The class's ghost ', the title she inherited on the day of her 10th farewell*. The whole class laughed. However, Jiya sat silently in the corner, as unbothered as ever.

She continued 11th and 12th grade in the same school. Being 'the ghost' she was. However, time and again, she would try to commit suicide.

Her parents were very tense regarding her future. One fine day, during Jiya's summer holidays after the 12th* farewell, a fine day for the world but a terrible day for Jiya- Jiya's dad decided he had had enough.

Just like the majority of typical Indian parents, he couldn't understand what depression is and thought all Jiya did was a 'drama'.

" All you know is to waste my money on your hospital bills." He shrieked at the top of his lungs.

Jiya today had been discharged from the hospital for the nth time after ingesting sleeping pills. "You don't have to worry about money, so you do all this," he continued in an annoyed tone. "Just wait, and I'll get you back on the track."

Jiya, just followed him home as she always had, without a single word.

#Note *The schooling system in India Nursery, kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 (pre-primary) 1st to 5th grade (primary) 6th to 10th (secondary) 10th has an all-India board exams 11th to 12th (senior secondary) You choose your stream in 11th, between humanities, commerce and science 12th has an all-India board exam again 12th-pass students can appear for different entrance exams depending on the stream they choose in 11th and what they want to study in college. *There are 2 farewells, once in 10th then in 12th. People may or may not be able to continue in the same school because 11th-grade admission depends on the 10th-standard grades. *Majority of students who had joined Nursery at the age of 3 and weren't held back pass out 12th at the age of 18......who are legal adults.