Silent Dreams

Mario was thrust into a world of expectations, not his own. Sent to prepare

for one of the toughest exams, he journeyed silently, carrying the weight of unspoken dreams,

and the hope of making his parents proud. An introverted soul since childhood,

Mario never found his voice. By 1st grade, he was already trapped in a cycle of endless

study hours, more for a facade of success than passion. The mantra drilled

into him: “Memorize everything to succeed.” But as the years went by, this pressure eroded

his emotions. By 9th grade, genuine happiness was a distant memory — he wore a mask

of smiles, hiding an internal emptiness. He devoted himself to studies for his