XXIII

23 years ago, I popped out of my mum's vagina after 9+ months of labour, and a man and his wife known as daddy and mummy to me named me Rachel. I was christened the unofficial baby (I'm not the youngest child) of the family and as a cry baby, I sulked at every thing – nosebleed? I sulk. No pink toy? I sulk. Korkor pulled my hair? I sulk. Liwen got the toy I wanted? I sulk. Get scolded? I sulk. No Angie The Choice girl-with-pig-tails cake? I sulk. Said cake came in durian flavour? I sulk even harder.

I was either sulking in every birthday picture, or crying. Nothing would be up to my standard, nothing could impress me. I was a difficult child, and I've grown into a difficult young adult hahahahahahahahahaa.

Somewhere along the way, I met Danial. I was 19+++ to be exact. And this boy from the bus stop eventually became my confidante, best friend, boyfriend, and soon we'll be spending the rest of our lives together. We'll maybe have one cat (say only la, I can't stand germs/fur/breathing living things that are not humans, and sometimes I also hate humans), our living room will have air conditioning and a salmon pink sofa, and I'll have the prettiest home.

Today I'm just as sulky as I was since 1992, but I try my hardest to be more rational. It doesn't mean I succeed all the time; I end up losing my temper way more often than I should. I try to make it a point to apologize when I've come to terms with my own fault. I try to be the bigger person, although it can be quite difficult sometimes.

It's a weird feeling to suddenly wake up and be 23. One night I'm 22 and the next morning I'm suddenly a year older. There's physically no difference (yet), but I hope that with age comes wisdom, and that I'll grow to be more matured in my ways.

I've graduated with second upper class honours, and I'm proud of my hard work. I've held a full time job for a year now, and I love what I do. I don't have as many friends as I did when I was 14, but I don't care for most people anyway. I'm truly contented with what I have in life, and I'm thankful for all the opportunities I've had and the people who've helped to groom me along the way.

So now I'm 23, and I couldn't be any happier.