147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqkimIUCAE
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DPPDX77WU
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK3eZg4LAd
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlNXGXCYPP
Lena sat beside me in class today.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2loAmY7Ce
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskRbMLItE4
She leaned over and asked, “You okay?”
I said, “Yeah, just tired.”147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdukt9uTRhb
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfjdj2vNVl
She smiled like that was enough.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kLXFu3gfR
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UfJuZzSaB
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCtf9DYjGT
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrQKqIvJve
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPJVF7Kn9p
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlbUFhNYkQ
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgUhNm7pBi
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdjoVyrfcs
I speak when I have to. I show up when it matters.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMalFWL0fu
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37oyNJyB2s
But everything I say feels like I’m lip-syncing someone else’s life.
It’s not that I want anyone to chase me.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkrV08Z7mc
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ3yP91kME
I just want someone to notice that I’m drifting.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqidXHpGxkw
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOnaekH5eu
Someone to stop smiling and actually look me in the eyes and say,
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts3q9ZK9fi“Something’s wrong. Don’t lie to me.”147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXmyhvJBpU
But no one ever does.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCowciMNc6Q
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi8JMZBGEE
They believe the smile. They always believe the smile.
And I don’t blame them.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebpyg06718
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6HWf8WAPY
I’ve made it easy.
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgMhO59eZj
I left my journal open on purpose this time.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQaHchpbD2
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ETvSHX8lj
Page bookmarked.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqjg6pGNmv
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCZpZWjcAu
Highlighting one line I hoped someone would read:
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd7YxaJhZl“If you’re reading this, I don’t want to disappear quietly.”147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe8y1VQ1SD
I didn’t lock my room when I left.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUsWeGTMKc
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPT53tzsuD
I just want to see who actually comes looking.
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLM2YiAEoQ
Thank you for reading. If this felt real to you, follow for the issue 3— I’m just getting start
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQqgviBv6J
Issue 3 drops in [like “2 days”]
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pUunDcMA6
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA6xJnMKQY
