after high school i had went to university, the one my dad had went to, trying to make him proud. i got into mechanical engineering, always painting the perfect picture of a stark heir. whenever he asked how uni was, i lied. i would lie about how much i loved it, how nice my roommate was, the friends i had made. it was all a lie. i was burnt out, depressed and lonely. the loneliness was the worst part, going from the busy compound to a small dorm with a roommate who was never in and when she was she doesn’t spare a glance at me. i had tried everything, bought her gifts, brought her food from the cafeteria yet i was still so alone. i just didn’t want my dad to be disappointed in me, having high expectations to meet. i didn’t tell him i would prefer to study english literature, or that i hate my classes, the teachers and my peers. i put on a mask and faked it. i was back at the compound for a week, a school holiday and i was utterly drained from all of the crushing weight of deadlines.