A Sense of Being Abandoned

Just as Abigail was getting ready to go to bed, she got a call from her uncle. Wondering why he would call her and why at that time of the night, she picked up. Though the call was not harbinger of doom, it left Abigail rattled nevertheless. Her uncle was rambling about how Abigail should relent to getting married to a guy who had rejected her years back and who, now, has come back, probably because he couldn’t find anyone else — all because Abigail is now 39 years old. “You will feel abandoned, once you are alone, which you are not realizing now,” he remarked.
Is that true? Does one feel abandoned, if they have to lead life alone? Maybe. But, how can someone, who rarely talks to Abigail know if Abigail hasn’t already gone through the abandonment issues that he is talking about? Here is why –

Abigail was born 39 years ago. For very long, she assumed she had or could have everything, she desired, like everyone else -- that she had the same tools, the same support system, and the same level ground, as her peers. Slowly, but surely, her fort of confidence and innocence came crumbling down. 
A father is a daughter's hero. But not for Abigail. The person who the world identifies as her father is anything but a supporting figure, her hero. He doesn't care an ounce about anyone but himself. He doesn't believe in saving a penny to help or support his family, let alone for his daughter's wedding. He thinks by half-heartedly providing the bare minimum necessity of the family until his daughter completes her education, his responsibilities are complete, and he has to contribute no more to the family. He assumes he is entitled to be a deadweight for his daughter to carry along with every other responsibility -- providing for the family, buying a house, everything. Here is the first instance of being abandoned that Abigail faced at the beginning of her life.
Next comes the mother. Though she is kind and considerate towards her daughter, Abigail's mother is not the constant support system that Abigail seeks. Abigail's mother believes her first priority is the outsiders -- relatives, people going on the streets, etc. -- and she forgets Abigail or Abigail becomes her last priority when she meets any of the above. Abigail has no emotional anchor in her mom as well. 
Abigail has no siblings. Consequently, she has no close ones at home. Case in point, Abigail has lived through abandonment issues even in the presence of people at home.
Now come the relatives. Or so called relatives. 99% of Abigail's relatives haven't checked whether Abigail is dead or alive in more than a year. They haven't cared much about Abigail, other than giving occasional "words of wisdom" on how she should compromise on everything in life, because her father is poor.
Finally, here are her "friends." Abigail has for a long time, sought out the love and care that she pined for, which she never got from her family, in friends. She was chasing them relentlessly, being subservient at times, only to be either discarded as trash or treated by them as a doormat. 

So, Abigail has always been abandoned, knowingly or unwittingly, by nearly everyone in her life. She feels invisible even in the presence of hundreds of people. When she is abandoned even when people are around, what difference would it make if she is left to her own means when there is no one in her life?

Leave a comment