The Monster in the Mirror

The suffocating darkness of a nightmare gives way to the stark reality of your cramped, cheap apartment. Every night, the trauma of your past replays, leaving you gasping for air.

But today is different. Today is the first day of university, the start of your new life. You rise, the familiar ache in your arm a dull reminder of yesterday's phantom pain, and begin the ritual that prepares you to face the world: applying the flawless mask that hides the scars and the 'monster' beneath. As you meticulously paint your face, memories flicker – a discarded yellow package, whispers of blame, a dumpster.

Outside, the stench of your building is a harsh welcome, but you push through, heading towards campus. The sheer volume of people, the anonymity, is a relief after years of being watched and judged. You clutch your schedule like a lifeline, determined to follow the path laid out for you. Then, you see him – a boy with sunlight in his hair and laughter in his voice – and everything changes.