No Judging

From middle school, she didn't have any close friends due to her early stages of depression. Till high school, she had only one best friend. After college, she went to Harvard University and worked hard day and night. From earning money for herself to studying till late at night.

Her brother had set the bar too high in the house. She wanted to be at least near the bar if not equal or above it. No close friends. No parties. No outings.

For entertainment, it would be non-fictional psychology novels. It continued till she completed her medical school. 8 years. Then residency and license exam. Till 30 she was just building a base for herself. On the side, she would go on blind dates arranged by her parents. [She was in demand] She believed in arrange marriages, so she never dated anyone and just focused on her career. There were family vacations and parties.

So, it could be said that her home was her only comfort place.

Therefore, when she experienced the love and care from the cousins to uncle and aunt, she was moved to tears.

[She was a crybaby.]

Lin Huiying soon came out of her space and went to sleep.

The next day as usual the Lin Family gathered for breakfast in the morning.

The first one to arrive was Lin Biao. The second was Lin Huiying, who had woke up early today.

"Good Morning, Big brother Biao." She greeted with a smile.

Lin Biao looked up, "Good morning, little sister. You are early today. Keep up the good work!"

Lin Huiying who was settling down and shrugged, "Oh, I wish I can wake up early every day. But I don't want to."

Lin Biao gave her a look and laughed lightly, looking at his little sister who was wearing light-plain clothes with a simple low ponytail and bare minimum accessories like earrings. She looked like a 'girl-next-door' in the modern term whose good looks were enough to carry her.

Lin Biao looked at Lin Huiying whose eyes were closed, head leaned back, hands massaging her right shoulder. Then he turned and surveyed the room for signs if anyone else was coming or not. He signaled the nearby servants to vacant the room.

Lin Huiying looked at it and asked, "Big Brother, you wanna talk?"

Lin Biao hesitated a little and nodded his head, "I wanted to …"

Looking at his nervous face, Lin Huiying offered to go somewhere more private. So they stood up, looked around, and entered the pavilion in the garden next to the hall.

Lin Huiying patiently waited for him to continue with a calm face. Then observing his face she understood that he was finding it hard to open up, "Look, you can talk about anything you want. I'll always be here to listen to it. And I promise to not judge you and give honest advice."

There is something different in verbally speaking out the words which the others need to hear and understand. Lin Biao would have said it sooner or later, but Lin Huiying knew that he needed assurance, that there was a person out there for him.

Hearing her, Lin Biao felt much relieved and found the courage to speak, "Thank you for speaking up for me that day. I... I don't know what to say or how to say it. But I felt like you were the first person to understand me."

"After that time, father has been more understanding. You know he even bought me a brush of 10 gold coins." He said with a half-smile, his eyes reflected his happiness.

Lin Huiying was happy for him, so she smiled sweetly, "That's sweet of him."

She continued looking at him in the eyes, "Look you need to communicate with him. Convey your feelings. Tell him how you feel about your passion. We all love you, we'll support you no matter what. Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one line and the chain is broken. To make this thing called life work, we gotta' lean and support. And relate and respond. And give and take. And confess and forgive. And reach out and embrace." She said it in one breath. She felt she needed him to understand that he was not alone.

He was not the most amazing guy, yes. He chose art. But he was not a born genius. It's what he liked to do. He worked hard to paint and create his art. But not everyone can achieve their goals.

And after a long time of not achieving it, one starts to feel like a fool - that there is only one thing that I decided to pursue and I can't even do that single thing - It starts to make us feel useless and dumb.