You ever have one of those days where you feel like you’re just… running on fumes? Like, you started the day with, I don’t know, a full tank? And then by the end of it, you’re just empty. Completely. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. That was me today. Had this mandatory group project meeting for like, five hours this afternoon. Five. Hours. And it was just… a lot. It started off okay, you know? Everyone’s all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. But then, obviously, two people on the team have completely different ideas about how to do things, and another person just wants to complain about *everything*, and then there’s the one who’s just quiet and stares at their laptop like they’re trying to conjure a solution out of thin air. So, guess who ends up being the designated peacemaker? Yeah, me. Like, "Okay, let’s hear both sides," and "Maybe we can try a hybrid approach," and "Hey, let’s take a five-minute break, everyone just breathe." I literally felt like a kindergarten teacher, but for adults. It was EXHAUSTING. By the time we finally wrapped up, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and disappear. And then, OF COURSE, as soon as I walk in the door, phone starts ringing. And it’s my mom. And I know she means well, she always does, but it’s like… I just can’t. I cannot do another conversation right now. My brain is just… mush. I looked at the screen, like, really looked at it, and I just could not bring myself to hit the green button. Is that awful? Does that make me a bad kid? Because I love her, obviously, but sometimes you just don’t have it in you to listen to updates about Brenda from book club or what new gadget my dad bought. Not after being the emotional support animal for a bunch of stressed-out college kids for half the day. So I just let it ring. And ring. And then it stopped. And then she texted, "Everything okay, sweetie? Call me when you can!" And I just stared at the text and felt this enormous wave of… nothing. Just blankness. I know I should call her back. I will. Eventually. But right now, I’m just sitting here, scrolling through anonymous confessions on the internet because it’s the only place I feel like I don’t have to *do* anything or *be* anything for anyone. It’s like, a weird kind of freedom, you know? Just typing out this whole thing, I don’t know. Sometimes you just hit that wall where you have absolutely nothing left to give. Not even to the people you love. And it’s not because you don’t care, it’s just because you’re completely, utterly, utterly drained. And the thought of having to engage in even one more social interaction, even a pleasant one, just feels like… too much. Like, way too much. So here I am, being a terrible daughter for a few more minutes, just trying to recharge in the dark. It’s kinda funny, actually. The lengths you go to avoid just… talking. Ha. Not really funny, actually. More like… sad. Whatever. I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Maybe.