" I Don’t Think Anyone Would Notice If I Stopped Showing Up" - #2 — Even When I’m in the Room, It Feels Like I’m Not

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Lena sat beside me in class today.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3VhB3QCN5
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She leaned over and asked, “You okay?”

I said, “Yeah, just tired.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2Sbu0o4Lt
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She smiled like that was enough.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXHWFiMoSb
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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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBTeR1XcUw
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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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedUj9XrDiM
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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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgw4IuhHpl
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I speak when I have to. I show up when it matters.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb3QHo2S61
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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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9lSbp2mwf
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I just want someone to notice that I’m drifting.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlRQkSlFJg
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Someone to stop smiling and actually look me in the eyes and say,

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“Something’s wrong. Don’t lie to me.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FVypJVZy7

But no one ever does.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z5NRwzhrh
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They believe the smile. They always believe the smile.

And I don’t blame them.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlESylxSw2G
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I’ve made it easy.

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I left my journal open on purpose this time.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsoBcWzJ3q
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Page bookmarked.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBZtShtnEH
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Highlighting one line I hoped someone would read:

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“If you’re reading this, I don’t want to disappear quietly.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3Ukn6xMly

I didn’t lock my room when I left.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhqL9Z6HEB
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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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