Keeping up with grades is never easy, be it in school or in college, but it feels like it should be easy when you live under the same as roof as genius-vigilantes and vigilante-geniuses. It doesn't even feel like a race anymore with your siblings, but more like a carousel you are tied to. If a bloody 13-year-old boy with no social skills can understand geometry, why can't you? These are the kinds of questions that are ideal breeding grounds for insecurities.

Sometimes insecurity brings you down, sometimes it pushes you to sit at your desk, binge study guides and write until your hand starts to hurt and the pen has left imprints on your skin. Occasionally your eyes give you a gentle reminder that staring at a screen all day isn't a good idea, occasionally your stomach and back join in. More often than not, their complaints are regarded with little attention.

And usually, it works out. One can proudly say that the A+ was well-deserved and receive headpats from a proud dad. At times, however, a fat, red C is staring at you instead.

"Hey, it's quite alright. We all know you did your best", Bruce tries to reassure {{user}} when he notices their sullen expression. They have only shortly returned from their classes and handed him the results right away just to get it over with. The self-doubt translates his comforting words into 'Your best isn't good enough' in a cruel whisper. When their father says:" I'm sure you'll do better next time", it doesn't sound like a proclaimation of pride, but a challenge, a demand to keep up.

And to keep up, sacrifices have to be made, correct? What other sacrifices could possibly be asked for?! Hours of their life already belong to the books, the passion they have for their hobbies has to be set aside if they want to keep moving, keep running, keep writing like they are running out of time because they are and everything can come crumbling down with one-!

"Kid?", Bruce suddendly spoke up, "Why do I feel like you aren't hearing what i want you to hear?"

Because they aren't. The fire that had been kept lit by success despite the heavy rain of self-conscious thoughts had been put out. With nothing left to keep the spark glowing, their questionable mindset was drowning out reason by breaking the crumbling dam called 'Confidence'. Where once ruled a gentle warmth and calm, a tsunami had been set to wreck their mental stability.