Happy New Year!

Happy new year, everyone!

It's been more than six months since the last time I wrote a post. I have been so busy with college since I was entrusted with something big which kept my eyes off everything else but that. College has been taken away all my time that I did not get the chance to spend some of it with my beloved ones like family, friends, and even myself. Although it was very exhausting and both mentally and physically draining, I am truly grateful for the opportunity.

Anyways, it is a brand new year. Although it's been a long time since the last time I believed that new year meant new me and I was so over the resolution thing, I recently became aware of my worth and values. I realized that I deserve to be surrounded with positive people and minds. I should not spare my time to think about those who don't respect me. I felt rejoiced to finally find and discover myself once more.

As for a new year's gift and an apology from me for not writing for so long, and my decision to become more active in writing (since it has been my passion for such a long time), I'd like to write one or two short stories in coming weeks. I am on my holidays and really, writing is a way to stay productive.

Hope you enjoy some of the writings!

Love,

-Abigail Gee

Antibiotics

Not all friendships are meant to be healthy.

Some of them are just plain bad; toxic. The person you find to be so comfortable with, slowly drowns you, bit by bit. This friend tells you all the sweet words after beating you so hard you cannot feel your limbs. This friend gives you water after feeding you with extremely hot dishes you cannot taste well any longer. This friend stays just to suck your life out of you.

But then there were moments when it was all just perfect; hours-long talks on the phone, deep, meaningful conversations, night drives that took your mind somewhere away. All the things you would want to be parts of your friendships. And all these started when this person literally saved your life without them knowing.

This person gave you hard slaps which turned out to be the only things you could digest well among all the supportive talks you had at that desperate moment; your darkest time in life. This particular friend made you, with your own bare hands, stop hurting yourself mentally and physically. This someone gave you hope that there were still people who truly cared for you. And of course you expected heated arguments. You expected both of you to be just human beings. You knew that there were never any smooth friendships, if they truly were at the first place.

You had it all in your friendship with this particular person. And little did you know, this person became your muse to all your songs, all your poems, your most significant influence to your art.

After a year separating ways with all the evil friends and your perfect friend, you met more people in life and started to figure out its meaning. You felt happier; your happiest state since a long, long time ago. You didn't talk much to each other, and your mind was busy doing all the things you were so passionate about. But then you knew that this person had a quite big part in your life, that without your friend, the puzzle would never ever be complete. So you still talked to this person once in a while, sharing random stories about what had happened in each other's life.

But then you still thought that you were missing something.

You found this person's message to be very offensive. Well, this friend is an ass, after all. You thought that it was okay since you were friends, but it seemed to cut you as deep as all those bullies had done long before. You noticed that your so-called friend barely treated you the way you saw your other friends did to each other. And you started scrolling up, and up, and up, reading all your virtual conversations, word by word. You tried to recall every single thing you both had said, trailing it down to the first time you begged for help. Yes, that afternoon when you suddenly had your typical anxiety, such panic attack that would not let you breathe. That sick thing you had had for so long, suffocating you.

It all seemed wrong. It all seemed too artificial. Had this person really done it all for you? Or you, as someone who is so expectant, had created these scenarios where he thought of you as a dear friend too rather than a patient needs to be taken care of?

Today, I came to a realization that no, it was not entirely artificial. Yes, I had so many expectations, and I had hoped that my friend could meet them. But no, I accepted this dear person for who they are, and I tried to be fluid; adaptive to this person's situations. This person did try to do the same. But in the end, we both failed to do it at all times. We were right for each other at one point, but contradicted at another.

I figured this whole friendship out. This friendship is very like antibiotics.

You see, antibiotics are kinds of medicine, designed for sickness. But you can't consume antibiotics on a daily basis. They are kinds of medicine you only take as the last resort. They are initially toxic to your body, as they are basically inhibited bacteria that causes the diseases you are currently having. The consumption of this particular drug is very strict, It has to be taken with discipline. You can't stop drinking it after the whole prescripted amount has been taken.

That is the perfect analogy for my friendship with this person. We are good for each other, to comfort each other when we are in pain. But we cannot share the same happiness. When we try to, we will end up ripping it apart, injecting it with such negative thoughts. We have made each other better over our tragedies, but we have also been toxic to each other frequently.

I realized that this is not exactly the friendship I had pictured to have, but it is not entirely bad. It is okay, to have such friends. But I don't think that it is meant to be a kind of friendship where you talk to each other everyday, share all your random thoughts, or send gifts to each other. It is a friendship where you came to talk, and to cry, and to mend all the pains together.

My friends told me to step away; to give up. I had been intoxicated with the thought that this person was my hero, they said. But that was actually true. This person did save me, in his own ways. I do need, at certain times, his different perspectives to truly value something. We both uphold a role as antibiotics to each other; only needed when you had no where else to go.

I just learned that I have to let go of this friend's hand, touching it only for just a high-five in certain occasions. I have to learn not to hug so tight, exchanging the hugs with some pats on the back. I have to quickly realize that maybe, this person will not be there for wishing me on all my birthdays, but this person will surely wish me all the best at my wedding.

Basically, I wrote this to tell you not to ditch a sinking ship just like that. You would have to see the surface, how big the hole is, to finally decide what's best to be done. Think about all the good things you have done with your particular friend, before making a choice you truly deserve. Not all bad people are not worth of being friends with, nor all people can meet your hopes and expectations. And by this, I would have to suggest you not to expect from people so much, or you will end up getting hurt even more.

So my friend, if you're ever reading this, I would have to say that I still value this friendship. I care for you more than you know, yet I really don't know what you expect of me. But do know, that there should be love and respect as well in a friendship, despite all the nasty jokes we shall share. I still am looking forward for more meetings over Starbucks whenever you're home in the coming future, and I hope you are too.

Love,

-Abigail Gee

Reflection

Imagine this.

You are a girl with ambitions and dreams and hopes. You have always imagined yourself standing with pride behind a podium, delivering a speech regarding women empowerment. You have dreamed to be someone people can count on, trust, and believe in. You have wanted yourself to achieve all the good things in life, as a reward of your hard work. You have set plans on where you want to continue studying, working, and eventually reaching all your life goals. You have always been persistent in getting your dreams, making them come true, because you know that your loved ones have faith in you, yet you never truly realized that these people never expected anything from you but to be a kind and loving human being in the future.

You have tried to please your parents and become someone your brother can look up to. You have tried to be this student the teachers will always remember. You have achieved so many things in life. You have become a familiar face to everyone, and yet, you have never felt like you're good enough.

But then you somehow become very ambitious. You slowly become arrogant and bossy, trying to justify all of your actions. You disagree with all decisions others make and instead force them to see from your perspective. You are just one uptight bitch.

Then they start to hate you. They talk about you behind your back, they make fun of you, and they cooperate to bring you down. As you have no idea about it, you just keep thinking that life seems to shower you with all the luck in the world.

But then they show it. They ridicule you in public, they confront you with mocks and they call you names. The whole class hates you, they throw rubbish at you, they make you do everything. You are powerless. You have no friends left to defend you. You do have friends who live far away from you, but they can't be there for you everyday and help you to get through the day. You only find comfort at home and your books, where no one judges you and they forgive.

Then you try to be friends with those who care less about your problems. You start hanging out with them. You take them to your house, showering them with treats and delights. They like having you. Then you let your guard down, and you start forgetting about all your pains. You think you finally found people who can take you for who you are.

But then, when it comes to your special day, they refuse to come because you don't pamper them enough. They think it is such a waste to go to your house to celebrate the happiest day for you because you cannot fulfill that water park visit you've promised them because you suddenly have your period.

Then you think that everything is a lie. You start finding shelter elsewhere, but no one seems to bother trying to be nice to you. You feel completely alone. You sometimes hang out with other people from other classes, but it seems like they have their own gangs as well. You end up skipping classes, doing badly in the class, and cry when no one sees you.

You start hurting yourself, both mentally and physically. Scissors and cutters are your favorite things, and you love seeing yourself bleeding. You'd rather cut your arms and wrists, than to feel the pain you have in the chest. You then spend most of your time to think and decide that you'll just kneel down to every one of them.

You start to believe that if you do something good, it will go back to you. You start to think that people will like you if you please them. So you make the best of yourself and basically offer yourself to them, expecting that they will do the same to you. You look weak, you look hopeless, you look miserably desperate. You get your friends, but then you feel incomplete and unhappy.

And you make friends in the middle of your desperation with some kind acquaintances. They sincerely want to help you, but then you mistake them as not just your saviors, but your best friends. You declare your friendships quickly and you are very excited about having them around for quite some time.

But turns out they don't think the same of you. They find you annoying. They want to be friends with you, for free food or other privileges they may not have if they're not friends with you. You give them everything. Anything they ask, everything you own. You want them to be pleased, and so they will treat you like you're one of them.

And your birthday comes along. You have promised them that you will take them to the best waterpark in town, alongside with the food treats. You will make them so happy and you remind them about presents and gifts you're expecting. But then you see red stains on your pants; you're having your period. You can't go to the waterpark and you promise them good food instead.

Your mom has been cooking since dawn for your friends, hoping that they will celebrate your birthday at your house. You've prepared everything from meals and beverages, to decorations. You still want to make them delighted with your party.

But then you receive mails that they all decided not to come, as you break your promise on taking them to waterpark. All you can do is just stand there and you don't dare to tell your mom about your friends. You end up crying on your own, in your room, sobbing while hoping that your mom will not find out about the tears.

With your swollen eyes then you come to your mom and tell her the bad news. Her face looks sad and all she does is be silent. She says nothing as she does not know what to say to you, how to comfort you, and how to tell you that it is okay when everything isn't.

And soon you choose to move to another city and be happy for a whole year, because everyone is so welcoming. The environment is so diverse that you feel like you belong there, since everyone is accepted.

But then high school comes and you choose to attend a school far away from home, being isolated from the outer world. You get to know three hundred new people introduced to you as your new friends. And they all start to make peer groups, and you're left behind, just like the all days.

Your anxiety comes around again, as if visiting an old friend. It stays there for two years, and you have nothing else to say and to lose. You live in pains you cannot share with your family, or simply no one. You are completely alone.

You win championships, but then people resent you for it. People think that you are not cool, you don't look nice, you are not pretty, you're unworthy of everything. So you start to look for your old friends; scissors and cutters.

Then you suffer from panic attacks, severe ones. You start to doubt yourself and the same pattern of cycle happens again and makes you feel a lot more miserable.

Until a gentle hand offers you a help to get out of the darkness.

And then you get to survive life and high school.

With some dramas, of course. But life seems to be all better.

And college days come and you happily embrace them. You know that things will be alright. You will be fine, as long as you keep the closest ones to the heart. You start to know people and be friends with them. You dare yourself to join organizations and drown yourself in hectic schedule. You make yourself brave enough to be happy and to be carefree for a little while.

And now, you get to see the sky so bright and blue, while whispering your favorite mantra,

"Life is not so bad after all."

Would you finally find genuine happiness within?

-Abigail Gee

Can Love Multiply?

Sometimes I wonder how people define love. Love, for me, is an abstract matter that portrays different meanings for each individual. The way I interpret my feelings, for me, is far away from how I think love is like. Love is something a lot more fundamental than just being attracted and mentally attached to oneself or someone else. I believe love also means being fully responsible for the ideas, implications, and problems that may follow the affection, and completely accepting flaws and mistakes of oneself or someone else.

And you may fall in love with more than one person at the same time.

But when you are emotionally and officially attached to someone, it is the feeling of loving someone else other than your significant other a form of infidelity? I don't think so.

I think there will always be a moment when one is currently with another, can give the same amount of affection to a third person (and/or more) as love is limitless. Love is just, infinite.

I don't know if I believe this, but I think we all are capable of loving more than just one person and love each one of them as equal. I don't think love has limited seats for certain people only; love comes in different forms.

That is the truth; falling in love is inevitable, even when it happens to more than one person.

But what differentiates infidelities with love multiplication is your response. When it comes to a relationship you are committed too, it is no longer about how you maintain the same feeling to that same person or how you brush off the feelings you have for someone else. It is now about how you are going to respond to it, as well as the strength of your commitment. It is about respect for your other half. It is inevitable to love, but it is perfectly preventable for us to cheat on your significant other.

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I am sorry, this is just a short piece of mind. I'll bring you longer posts next time!

Love,

-Abigail Gee

[Bahasa] Bukan Keistimewaan

Ketika saya bertemu dengan beberapa teman lama di sebuah pusat perbelanjaan, saya terdiam. Mereka dengan gestur anggunnya mulai berkisah tentang liburan masing-masing. Berbeda dengan saya yang datang dari keluarga kelas menengah, mereka lahir di lingkungan yang berkelebihan. Satu baru saja kembali dari tur keliling Eropa, yang lain dari negeri kangguru. Saya hanya duduk dan diam mendengarkan, sementara mereka berdebat mengenai perbedaan harga sebuah tas Chanel di kedua negara. Tak satupun dari mereka yang menggaet saya untuk masuk dalam percakapan. Saya seakan menyatu dengan tembok yang melatar belakangi meja kami. Seharusnya saya tidak seperti itu. Seharusnya, saya sadar bahwa berbicara merupakan hak asasi saya, bukan keistimewaan.

Di hari yang lain, saya mengalami sakit demam yang berkepanjangan. Keadaan itu memaksa saya untuk pergi ke rumah sakit untuk tes darah. Saya pun duduk di sebuah bangku panjang di ruang tunggu, menanti nama saya dipanggil oleh salah satu perawat. Setelah berurusan dengan dokter dan menerima resep obat, saya beranjak menuju kasir untuk menebus obat dan biaya periksa.  Seseorang di depan saya, dengan kartu asuransi yang ternama, dibebaskan dari biaya periksa dan hanya perlu membayar obat. Giliran saya pun tiba. Saya menyerahkan kartu BPJS saya. Tetapi, kasir tersebut dengan tersenyum kecil memberitahu saya 'dengan menyesal' bahwa BPJS tidak diterima di rumah sakit tersebut. Orang yang membayar sebelum saya itupun, yang masih menunggu obatnya datang, memberikan saya pandangan iba. Saya pun menunduk malu dan dengan segera mengeluarkan uang tunai. Saya seharusnya tidak seperti itu. Saya seharusnya sadar, bahwa kesehatan dan perlakuan sopan itu adalah hak asasi saya, bukan keistimewaan.

Di hari yang lain lagi, saya berjalan melewati  sebuah sekolah negeri terkemuka di belahan kota Jakarta. Anak-anak dengan seragam putih merahnya berjalan menyeruak dari gerbang besarnya. Tiba-tiba pandangan saya terpaku pada segerombolan anak ingusan yang mengitari seorang temannya dengan perawakan kecil dan lemah. Mereka memojokkannya dengan wajah penuh keangkuhan. Jagoan kecil, ceritanya. Saya pun dengan rasa penasaran mendekati gerombolan tersebut dan mendengar kata-kata yang terlontar dari mulut salah seorang anak, "Heh. Duitnya mana? Jangan lupa sekalian bunganya, loh!" Saya pun naik pitam dan mulai membentak sekumpulan anak itu, "Kalian ngapain? Kenapa malakin temen sendiri?! Sekarang semua pulang. Bubar!" Mereka dengan ketakutan berlari ke arah yang berbeda, membubarkan geng kecil tersebut. Saya tahu mereka tidak seharusnya seperti itu. Rasa aman itu hak dari anak kecil itu, bukan keistimewaan.

Dari kisah yang saya alami itu pun saya tersadar, bahwa hal-hal kecil yang kita anggap tidak penting; barang sebuah rasa aman maupun rasa dihargai, adalah hak asasi tiap-tiap manusia, bukanlah sebuah keistimewaan. Mereka tidak didapatkan hanya bila kita telah mendapatkan sebuah status sosial tertentu. Terkadang, kita lupa bahwa manusia, memiliki hak-hak dasar yang sama, yang didapatkan sejak keluar dari rahim ibu. Terkadang, kita lupa bahwa terdapat hak asasi orang lain yang harus dipenuhi dan kita hargai. Kita bahkan terkadang lupa bahwa kita sendiri memiliki hak tersebut.

Dan dari kisah anak yang ditindas oleh teman-temannya, saya menemukan satu pelajaran. Apabila saya tidak datang di waktu yang tepat, anak tersebut mungkin akan kehilangan uangnya untuk pulang naik angkutan umum. Sama dengan hak asasi pada umumnya. Apabila kita tidak menyadari adanya hak asasi orang-orang lain yang dilanggar oleh sebuah sistem maupun pihak tertentu, tidak akan ada sebuah gerakan nyata untuk membela mereka yang lemah dan tidak memiliki daya untuk menyuarakan nuraninya. Dan bila kesadaran itu sepenuhnya lenyap dari muka bumi, dimana tiap individu tak lagi mementingkan hak orang lain sedikitpun, maka tidak akan lagi tercipta konsep kemanusiaan.

Sehingga, dapat disimpulkan bahwa terdapat tiga hal yang harus kita sadari. Pertama, sadarilah bahwa hak asasi adalah hal yang harus dan sepantasnya kita terima, bukan keistimewaan. Kedua, sadarilah bahwa hak asasi itu juga dimiliki orang lain, bukan keistimewaan kita sendiri. Ketiga, sadarilah bahwa menyadari bahwa hak asasi bukanlah keistimewaan, adalah alasan mengapa kemanusiaan tetap eksis sampai saat ini.

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples." -Mother Teresa

-Abigail Gee