A Powerful Unknown Impact

Ting' 'Ting' Finally, it's recess and I am feeling famished. Workshops are really taxing. Grabbing my bag, I headed towards the cafeteria. Personally, I think 'the state-of-the-art cafeteria' is a major point of attraction for most new admissions.

Entering through the double glass doors followed by a glazed wooden staircase with a banister covered in vines, I stepped on the mellow-brown tiled floor and glided towards the food. Ah! So many options to choose from. Let's see what to grab.

Perks of coming winter - we have fish. Taking a serving of fish and chips, I moved towards the salad section - let's go with the carrot & radish salad. Drinks are next - What do you choose? The drink section doesn't have many options - picking a cup of Arabian tea, I moved towards the final section; 'desserts.'

The dessert section is filled with a variety of pastries, and I chose the Black Forest one. Putting an orange on the tray, I looked for a place to sit. The cafe is packed today. Wait! I see a seat - quickly walking to it. It was a two-person table with an excellent view of the rain outside, although one chair was occupied.

I asked her politely if I could join her, she nodded with a small smile. I think she is shy, maybe a junior - oh well! Giving her a smile in return, I put down my tray and joined her. Getting her to talk was hard, she just answered what I asked instead of engaging in a two-way conversation, making me feel like an inquisitor.

At least I got her name - Twinkle, isn't it pretty? She is 22 years old and a first-year student in the 'Dietician & Nutrition' field. A nice choice if I say so myself. I was working on getting her to unwind and open up while enjoying my meal. It's a tedious process, but I worked a few rotations in the psychiatric department, so I think I can do this. She is giving off the same vibes as those teenage patients who have suffered a lot and seen a lot. It took a while to open up but she was still guarded. From her snippets, I was able to get the complete picture - from a young age, she was experiencing mental health issues because she grew up in a negative environment, anxiety and depression were her constant companions casting a shadow over everything she did. To her, just living was a battle.

To cover up everything, she hid behind a fake bold persona - smiling, laughing, and pretending that everything was okay, but inside she was falling apart. The day before she got admission here, she was at her wits' end, her mask slipped, and her eyes welled up. Speaking at this point was hard because her voice had suddenly disappeared. At this moment, she was approached by a lady, all the details about the lady were blurred except the concern which she saw in her eyes.

She was then guided to the side, handed a drink, and engaged in a one-sided conversation. To her, these 15 minutes were like a beacon in the dark, and she finally gave a nervous smile, thanking her. I don't think the lady knew what an impact she had. This was one of the main reasons she got admission here because that lady is Chef Nora, who works here.

According to her, just by looking at her gives her motivation and hope, and she strives to get better every day. I can tell it's working from the way she described herself and now the lady sitting in front of me - I can say she is on the path to recovery. I hope it stays that way.

I guess that's what everyone wants - someone who cares, who understands, who supports, and who listens because that is enough to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep living.