I could hear the exhaustion in her voice, the weight of her responsibilities pressing on her. “You don’t have to do everything, Lily. You don’t have to be everything for everyone. Your success doesn’t mean sacrificing your well-being.”
She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. “I don’t want to disappoint anyone. I don’t want to seem like I can’t handle it.”
I took a deep breath, pushing back the lump in my throat. “Sweetheart, I’ve been watching you work for so long now. And I’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished. But the most important thing is this: you need to be okay. You need to take care of yourself, or you won’t be able to keep doing what you love. And I know you love designing. But you have to remember that you’re allowed to take breaks. You’re allowed to rest.”
She was silent for a moment, letting my words sink in. Then, with a shaky exhale, she nodded. “I know. I just… I don’t want it all to slip away. Everything I’ve worked for.”
“You’ve worked hard,” I said firmly. “You’ve earned everything you’ve achieved. And no matter what, I’ll be here for you. You can’t do this alone. And you don’t have to.”