Then it begins

the game parents play

to show off their children

trying to make them the best

in subjects they never were

Parents mindlessly play this game

trying to see whose kid is better

with their kid having to balance everything

''do better''

they say

telling you to be better

when you are doing your best

''work harder''

they tell you

when you're burnt out

and trying to hold on

so they can be proud of you

''Their kid is so much better at this''

they tell you

when another kid

is suffering as much as you are

for the sake of your parent's happiness

so that you can be seen as successful

and not a failure

or a kid who can't do anything correctly

you're balancing on a tightrope

and your parents

are handing you books

exams

and their pride

on your shoulders

and when they tell you:

work harder

why aren't you doing as good as their kid

you can do better

I wish you were successful

why can't you do anything right

I never thought someone was so bad at this, but here you are

and more,

the tightrope shakes

and you almost fall off

but they yell to you:

don't disappoint me

so you keep everything on the rope

leaving yourself behind

trusting your body to go into autopilot

to keep on making them proud

this is a game

called school