"Why couldn't I say it?"
Sora muttered as if to herself. In the library, Mira and Leo looked up.
Leo questioned, "What couldn't you say?"
Sora hesitated. "...Thank you."
"To whom?" Mira asked quietly.
"To a friend. They helped me, but I couldn't say it then."
Leo said analytically, "Expressing gratitude seems simple but is difficult."
Sora nodded. "Why is that?"
Mira wrote in her notebook. "I can never say it either."
"You too?" Sora was surprised.
Mira nodded. Being poor with words was usual.
Leo began explaining. "There are psychological barriers to emotional expression."
"Barriers?" Sora asked back.
"Embarrassment, fear, timing. Various factors block words."
Sora wrote in her notebook. "Specifically?"
"First, fear of vulnerability," Leo said. "Expressing emotion is exposing your weakness."
Mira nodded strongly. Empathizing.
"Even expressing gratitude?" Sora was puzzled.
"Yes. It means admitting 'I needed your help.'"
Sora understood. "Not wanting to seem dependent."
"Subconsciously, you might feel that," Leo said.
Mira wrote. "Fear of rejection."
Leo nodded. "That's big too. Even expressing gratitude might be brushed off lightly."
Sora empathized. "If they say 'no big deal,' it hurts."
"Right. So not saying feels safer."
Mira wrote again. "Missing timing."
"Exactly," Leo acknowledged. "Optimal timing is brief. Missing it makes it harder later."
Sora recalled. "I was confused then, and by the time I calmed down, time had passed."
"Common pattern," Leo said.
"But," Sora asked, "if you don't say it, it won't get through, right?"
"Exactly," Leo answered. "Telepathy doesn't exist."
Mira said quietly, "Want to be understood."
"But without saying, they won't know," Sora said gently.
Leo supplemented, "People can't read others' minds. Verbalization is necessary."
Mira looked troubled. "Difficult."
"Certainly difficult," Leo acknowledged. "But not impossible."
Sora asked, "How can we learn to say it?"
Leo thought. "Start small."
"Small?"
"Don't seek perfect expression. Just the word 'thank you' is enough."
Sora agreed. "Long explanation isn't necessary."
"Right. Simpler actually gets through better."
Mira wrote. "Takes courage."
Leo said seriously, "Exactly. Emotional expression takes courage."
Sora added, "But better to have courage to say than regret not saying."
Mira pondered.
Leo suggested, "Want to practice?"
"Practice?" Both were surprised.
"Yes. Right here, now, express gratitude to each other."
Sora hesitated. "That's embarrassing."
"That's the barrier," Leo pointed out. "But it can be overcome."
Mira gathered courage. "Leo, thank you always."
Leo smiled. "You're welcome. Mira's keen observation always helps me too."
Sora continued. "Both of you, thank you. I learn a lot being with you."
"Same here," Leo answered.
Mira smiled quietly.
Sora realized. "Saying it was easier than I thought."
"The first step is hardest," Leo said. "But once taken, it gets easier."
Mira wrote in her notebook. "Unsaid feelings, I can say now."
Sora encouraged, "To whom?"
"Everyone," Mira said quietly. "I've always wanted to say thank you."
"Happy to hear it," Sora smiled.
Leo added, "Emotional expression is like muscle. The more you use it, the stronger."
The three left the library.
Unexpressed feelings have various reasons. Fear, embarrassment, timing. But overcoming them is worthwhile. Verbalizing deepens relationships and lightens hearts.
Today became that step.