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Lena sat beside me in class today.153Please respect copyright.PENANAkCscJi4PSR
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She leaned over and asked, “You okay?”
I said, “Yeah, just tired.”153Please respect copyright.PENANAxcSCDjXeFl
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She smiled like that was enough.153Please respect copyright.PENANAv661YGwjap
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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.153Please respect copyright.PENANAds0q39MAMt
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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.153Please respect copyright.PENANARg2a6T31wo
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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.153Please respect copyright.PENANAJvjz2wa6CO
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I speak when I have to. I show up when it matters.153Please respect copyright.PENANA6sZtgOAGv9
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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.153Please respect copyright.PENANAjwBQxMvkU3
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I just want someone to notice that I’m drifting.153Please respect copyright.PENANAJo1F1IfHAU
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Someone to stop smiling and actually look me in the eyes and say,
153Please respect copyright.PENANAVCdjDkhTMO“Something’s wrong. Don’t lie to me.”153Please respect copyright.PENANAmL8bQG7cUC
But no one ever does.153Please respect copyright.PENANA5P4rUst7gC
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They believe the smile. They always believe the smile.
And I don’t blame them.153Please respect copyright.PENANA0I5iIM3wxy
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I’ve made it easy.
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I left my journal open on purpose this time.153Please respect copyright.PENANAfK5BvVCrz6
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Page bookmarked.153Please respect copyright.PENANAijvAe9Ecz9
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Highlighting one line I hoped someone would read:
153Please respect copyright.PENANAjArx5JkByk“If you’re reading this, I don’t want to disappear quietly.”153Please respect copyright.PENANAg3DZHeMpl7
I didn’t lock my room when I left.153Please respect copyright.PENANAfwVzHYI8Jb
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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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