
45Please respect copyright.PENANANiS7bEFRsP
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Lena sat beside me in class today.45Please respect copyright.PENANAnQIjBTzuwy
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She leaned over and asked, “You okay?”
I said, “Yeah, just tired.”45Please respect copyright.PENANAYRCcrOJyEy
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She smiled like that was enough.45Please respect copyright.PENANAM5NluHme4R
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I smiled back — the kind you practice in mirrors so nobody asks twice.
It worked. It always does.
Later, Eli dropped something in the group chat. A plan. Movies, drinks, the usual Saturday noise.45Please respect copyright.PENANAxUVDbIP6Pt
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Everyone reacted. I gave it a thumbs up, muted the chat, and closed the app like it burned to hold it.
I don’t hate people. I just hate feeling like I don’t exist around them.45Please respect copyright.PENANAjJEB7wKAtZ
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Even when I’m there, fully present, it still feels like I’m watching my life from behind glass.
I listen to people laugh and wonder what it feels like to actually mean it.45Please respect copyright.PENANAtM88u2QnMr
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I speak when I have to. I show up when it matters.45Please respect copyright.PENANAGzVDucHHeF
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But everything I say feels like I’m lip-syncing someone else’s life.
It’s not that I want anyone to chase me.45Please respect copyright.PENANAisUVJoix9V
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I just want someone to notice that I’m drifting.45Please respect copyright.PENANAHSdNJNZhXg
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Someone to stop smiling and actually look me in the eyes and say,
45Please respect copyright.PENANAB8t2bBH177“Something’s wrong. Don’t lie to me.”45Please respect copyright.PENANA8UoyZWDKFN
But no one ever does.45Please respect copyright.PENANA5bOoFiYnd5
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They believe the smile. They always believe the smile.
And I don’t blame them.45Please respect copyright.PENANAQwDhan4qdg
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I’ve made it easy.
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I left my journal open on purpose this time.45Please respect copyright.PENANA9awd4Mvzie
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Page bookmarked.45Please respect copyright.PENANAAFZDSKurLw
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Highlighting one line I hoped someone would read:
45Please respect copyright.PENANA3uJJO46ur3“If you’re reading this, I don’t want to disappear quietly.”45Please respect copyright.PENANAE7H3R1tp9y
I didn’t lock my room when I left.45Please respect copyright.PENANAFCOS0I4IpN
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I just want to see who actually comes looking.
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Thank you for reading. If this felt real to you, follow for the issue 3— I’m just getting start
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Issue 3 drops in [like “2 days”]
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