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“Well, look who it is,” my dad jokes in a way that’s half serious. “The city slicker returns.”
“How was the flight?” My mom starts throwing more questions at me than I can answer. “Is that a new hairstyle? Are you going to a new place? Why don’t we go inside and catch up?”
I follow them into the house, the familiar scent of home cooking and laundry detergent filling my nose. It’s comforting, but also a little suffocating.
A few boxes line the walls, but it’s clear there’s a lot more work to be done if they’re gonna move out of here in a few weeks. My mind spins as I make up a plan to tackle each room.
“Have some lunch.” Mom leads me into the kitchen. “It’s your favorite, chicken pot pie.”
As I sit down at the kitchen table, Mom puts a steaming hot plate of chicken pot pie in front of me. I take a bite and savor the taste of the creamy chicken and sauce mixed with vegetables. It’s just as good as I remembered.
“So, how’s the big city treating you?” Dad asks as he sits down across from me, taking a bite of his own lunch.
“It’s good,” I reply, trying to keep my tone even. “Busy as always, but I’m managing.”
I avoid his eyes. They still don’t know that I was basically ordered by my boss to take a break before I “die of a heart attack or have a mental breakdown.”
Those are Sakina’s words, not mine. I’m perfectly fine just taking a weekend off, but when it comes to work, I kind of have to do what she tells me.
I take another bite of the chicken pot pie, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that I should be back in the city, working.
My mom leans forward, interrupting my thoughts. “We’re so glad you’re here, honey. It feels like it’s been ages since we’ve seen you.”
I force a smile, trying to push aside my own feelings of suffocation. This is what I wanted, wasn’t it? To come here and stay busy rather than twiddle my thumbs at home or on a beach somewhere? But now that I’m here, I feel trapped.
This house feels too small, and I feel like I’m a teenager again just by being here.
Mom steeples her hands under her chin. “What about Dan? How is he?”
“We, uh, we broke up.”
Her jaw drops. “What? No!”
“That’s a shame,” my dad says. “He’s a good fella.”
Mom’s brow furrows. “Are you sure the two of you can’t work it out?”
I shake my head, not feeling like getting into the fact that I caught him in bed with another woman. Even though I know that choice is all on him, there’s some shame in your boyfriendsneaking behind your back like that. I can’t help it, but a part of me feels like Dan’s actions are an indicator that I’m not good enough.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I say. “It just wasn’t working out.”
There’s a silence that stretches between us, only interrupted by the sound of forks clanking against plates. Mom and Dad exchange glances, their expressions full of worry and sympathy.
Finally, Dad clears his throat. “We’re just concerned. You’ve always been so career-focused, but isn’t it about time for you to think about settling down and getting married?”
I nearly drop my fork. My parents have always been obsessed with my grades and my career. It was always expected that I would be at least close to the top of my class and then go on to medical school.
In a way, this has been fine because it’s what I wanted anyway. Sometimes, though, the pressure they’ve put on me has been nearly backbreaking.
And now they suddenly want me to pivot? And to marriage, at that?
I swallow, a bad taste in my mouth. “I don’t think I’m ready for that yet,” I say, my voice tight. “I just got out of a relationship, and I want to focus on my career.”
Mom nods, though there’s obvious disappointment in her eyes. “Of course, dear. We just want you to be happy.”
I search for a change of topic or some kind of escape. “I need to head into town to grab a few things I forgot. Is there anything you need?”
After Mom gives me the short grocery list, I can’t get out of the house and into my car fast enough.
