Echoes of Silence ~ Episode 6
20-09-25 (11:27)
**Echoes of Silence**
**Episode 6: Pressure Cooker
(September 19, 2024)**
Maya's anxiety was escalating. The
first major journalism assignment
of the year loomed, a feature piece
on a local community center. She
felt paralyzed, overwhelmed by the
pressure to deliver a perfect story.
Hours were spent staring at a blank
screen, the cursor blinking
mockingly. Every word felt
inadequate, every sentence clumsy.
Her parents, oblivious to her inner
turmoil, continued to heap praise on
her sister, subtly reinforcing the
message that anything less than
perfection was unacceptable.
Sleepless nights were spent poring
over textbooks, cramming for tests
she knew she would ace, yet still
fearing failure. She started skipping
meals, her appetite disappearing as
her anxiety consumed her.
Ethan noticed her growing distress.
He saw the dark circles under her
eyes, the way she chewed her
nails until they bled. He tried to
reassure her, reminding her of her
talent, her intelligence. But his
words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Maya was spiraling, trapped in a
pressure cooker of her own
making. He knew he had to do
something, but he wasn't sure
what. He was still struggling to
keep his own head above water. Don't forget to leave a Comment 
