Chapter 3

That realization stung like a poisoned thorn, piercing my heart.

Panic settled in, cold and heavy in my chest.

Staring at my stranger's reflection in the mirror, I saw a face without emotion, eyes empty, like a carefully programmed robot.

This wasn't me. The real me, trapped deep inside this body, screamed in despair, yet no sound escaped.

I tried to resist, just to see if I could break free.

I deliberately got a few questions wrong on a quiz, dropping my unshakable first place to third.

My teacher pulled me aside, asking if I was feeling off.

I shook…