
42Please respect copyright.PENANAbD6MtM6qTU
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Lena sat beside me in class today.42Please respect copyright.PENANAPxHrosPajK
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She leaned over and asked, “You okay?”
I said, “Yeah, just tired.”42Please respect copyright.PENANAZesOGrWm3O
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She smiled like that was enough.42Please respect copyright.PENANAfgPKUYqjxh
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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.42Please respect copyright.PENANALBOwx97G3P
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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.42Please respect copyright.PENANADNHvuluJTA
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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.42Please respect copyright.PENANAeMmT9Ww3wz
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I speak when I have to. I show up when it matters.42Please respect copyright.PENANAuo4BRnZpVX
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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.42Please respect copyright.PENANAUMorPBd5cz
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I just want someone to notice that I’m drifting.42Please respect copyright.PENANAduwOzy13Sz
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Someone to stop smiling and actually look me in the eyes and say,
42Please respect copyright.PENANAiKHp7Rxe2c“Something’s wrong. Don’t lie to me.”42Please respect copyright.PENANAvr1N03QPZD
But no one ever does.42Please respect copyright.PENANAUVFmpzmmwQ
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They believe the smile. They always believe the smile.
And I don’t blame them.42Please respect copyright.PENANACgB0QufOVp
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I’ve made it easy.
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I left my journal open on purpose this time.42Please respect copyright.PENANA3jasda8Hss
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Page bookmarked.42Please respect copyright.PENANAUpp13ZMsEE
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Highlighting one line I hoped someone would read:
42Please respect copyright.PENANAYBl2OQMCpN“If you’re reading this, I don’t want to disappear quietly.”42Please respect copyright.PENANAsssBUVURYy
I didn’t lock my room when I left.42Please respect copyright.PENANA95JW3cOXqM
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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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