The Mask We Wear
The shrill ring of her alarm sliced through the stillness before dawn. Tadiwa’s eyes fluttered open, the ceiling above her blurred in the dim light filtering through curtains drawn tightly shut. For a moment, she lingered in the quiet warmth of her bed, heart thudding unevenly in her chest like a hesitant drumbeat. Today wasn’t just any day—it was the first day of her senior year, the year everyone expected her to shine perfectly, both online and offline.
She swung her legs over the side, feet touching the cool wooden floor. The house was silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of settling walls. Moving toward the bathroom, she flicked on the light, the harsh fluorescent glow washing over her reflection. Staring back was a girl who looked calm, composed—eyes steady, lips curved in a practiced smile. But beneath that surface, a storm of nerves churned.
Tadiwa reached for her hairbrush, fingers trembling slightly as she smoothed her curls into place. She adjusted the collar of her crisp white blouse, making sure no stray strands or wrinkles would betray the hours she’d spent in front of the mirror last night. Each detail mattered—every pixel of…
