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Lena sat beside me in class today.150Please respect copyright.PENANAhfN4aG9ZZE
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She leaned over and asked, “You okay?”
I said, “Yeah, just tired.”150Please respect copyright.PENANAupcWYEMFaI
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She smiled like that was enough.150Please respect copyright.PENANA4T0rxh5COV
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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.150Please respect copyright.PENANAfNRJWGnZo8
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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.150Please respect copyright.PENANAapB9oemW5y
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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.150Please respect copyright.PENANAXIFsg25a0B
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I speak when I have to. I show up when it matters.150Please respect copyright.PENANAcuhoZHPfWL
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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.150Please respect copyright.PENANAx4yylgJf8r
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I just want someone to notice that I’m drifting.150Please respect copyright.PENANABmiAWPer6C
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Someone to stop smiling and actually look me in the eyes and say,
150Please respect copyright.PENANAhYMMkt4zlZ“Something’s wrong. Don’t lie to me.”150Please respect copyright.PENANAaFJHnSylBk
But no one ever does.150Please respect copyright.PENANAd4E02ajnLD
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They believe the smile. They always believe the smile.
And I don’t blame them.150Please respect copyright.PENANAkC9TR5rAGw
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I’ve made it easy.
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I left my journal open on purpose this time.150Please respect copyright.PENANAbcGbqVgjOg
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Page bookmarked.150Please respect copyright.PENANAPgXP6l3gpm
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Highlighting one line I hoped someone would read:
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnEsvabiwyl“If you’re reading this, I don’t want to disappear quietly.”150Please respect copyright.PENANATJZRll3TdK
I didn’t lock my room when I left.150Please respect copyright.PENANAL4AxQrJPGj
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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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