173: “You don’t have to be afraid of him anymore.” — By A Concerned Cousin

If you could reflect on one thing, it’s this:

What are you still allowing that you now have the power to change?

This letter is for anyone who’s ever witnessed someone they love live small in order to survive.

The writer speaks to her cousins, trying to help them see the impact of a domineering father. Though now adults with careers, they still live under his roof: polite, submissive, and living like NPCs. The writer reflects on how her own journey of independence has made her more aware of what her cousins never had.

Whether you’ve been the one watching from the outside or the one still inside the house, this letter shines a light on what’s unspoken in some Filipino families: the cost of obedience, the price of silence, and the risk of choosing yourself.

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