GENDER & PRO-NOUNS: CisFemale, she/her
DATE OF BIRTH: October 15th, 1988
PLACE OF BIRTH: Portchester, Michigan
FACECLAIM: Leighton Meester
“ It’s difficult to live with a kind heart in such a cruel world.”
Trigger Warnings: pregnancy, miscarriage
“For people who are supposed to love unconditionally, families seem to have a lot of conditions.” Little Olive learned that lesson when she was just five-years-old. The first child out of two, Olive was born out of wedlock to a conservative, Christian family (one who would never dream of abortion or adoption). Dealing with a narcissistic mother (their father abandoned them as soon as he found out their mother was pregnant), Olive’s feelings were never acknowledged, and her pain was never comforted. She learned that she shouldn’t have feelings or needs; she was there to take care of her mother, to make her feel better. And if she didn’t, there were consequences. Olive’s mother would withhold all affection, giving Olive and her baby sister the silent treatment by retreating to her room for hours. The tiny girl wasn’t valued for the person she was, but for what she could do for others. She could comfort them, she could entertain her sister, and she could bring mom her medicine when she had a headache.
Not surprisingly, Olive continued this behavior all throughout her childhood and teenage years. She does everything for everyone else, she follows the rules, she’s well-liked, and why wouldn’t she be? She has no boundaries, and on the rare occasion that she does say ‘no’ it comes with a heavy dose of guilt. There is one thing, however, that Olive finds solace in - nursing. Blame it on all the countless hours left alone and taking care of her baby sister. The reward of happiness she got from those she could make feel better and take care of made her feel worth something, and so, she found her calling in life. She excelled in school, which wasn’t surprising. She had to be perfect, it’s what was expected of her, and she was almost too polite, too perfect; the picture perfect example of the kind of girl you’d take home to your mother. She scrimped and saved all throughout high school by babysitting or sitting with the elderly, and when it came time for graduation, she had saved up just enough money to make the move to Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, she enrolled in the Kirkhof College of Nursing.
It was in Grand Rapids where she met the man of her dreams, or so she thought. His name was Jake, a fellow nursing student, and he showered her with all the love and attention that she so desperately craved in her life. He quickly became the center of her universe; there was nothing she wouldn’t do for him. However, Jake was a big city boy with a history of being a playboy, and in a sad attempt to keep him in her life forever, they eloped. Just a few months later, she graduated with a degree in nursing and the couple made the move to Detroit where they lived for the next few years. Things were good for a while, almost great, at least until one day in June while Olive was at work. She was updating her patient’s records, when all of a sudden she felt an excruciating cramp in her abdomen. Without going into detail, she had suffered a miscarriage. She wasn’t even aware that she was pregnant to begin with. The shocking news wreaked havoc on her mental state, and soon after her marriage started showing signs of trouble as Jake’s true colors began to appear. He never really gave up his playboy lifestyle, only learned to hide it better. He knew Olive’s fear, that deep inside she was afraid no one would love her or want her if she did something to displease them, and he used that to his advantage. For months, she thought of leaving him, but she was afraid of never finding someone who would ‘love’ her as much as he did. Finally, it was Jake who suggested a divorce, and Olive, riddled with guilt, said yes.
Heartbroken and ashamed, Olive returned to Portchester where she now works at the local hospital. Still learning to process what she’s been through, she’s unaware of her own feelings and needs and uses her title as a registered nurse to de-stress and keep her feelings at bay. But she can only keep them tucked away for so long. They start to bubble up as resentments, and then as snide remarks said under her breath, or passive-aggressive moves. She still has trouble saying ‘no’ and keeps doing things for others, but in the end, praise is her reward and validation is what she seeks. However, it will never be enough.
POSITIVE: Sincere, Well-balanced, Charming
NEGATIVE: Gullible, Easily-Influenced, Indecisive
