I left the house with Melo, and the air between us felt tense. After that breakfast, I wasn’t sure if I could keep pretending nothing had changed. Melo opened the car door for me, and I got in, feeling like I needed a script to stay in character as Marian. Instead of waiting for him to notice something was off, I decided I should address it directly.

“Melo, have you noticed anything strange about me?”

“In what way?”

“Not just now, but in general. After the accident, haven’t you felt like I’ve changed?”

“Well, yeah, you’ve been acting a bit different, but that’s to be expected. You survived a life-threatening event, Marian—that’s what matters.”

“What if I’m not really Marian anymore?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“What if the accident turned me into someone else? Would that change things between us?”

“Marian, this accident doesn’t change anything in our friendship. And don’t let it define you. You’re still the same person, just someone who went through a traumatic event. You’ll continue living your life just like you always have.”

“I can’t promise that. Honestly, I feel like a completely different person. I just hope you stay the same, even if I change.”

“You seem off today. Did you sleep okay? ”

“Didn’t you say you had a lot to do?”

“Well, you were the one eager to leave early. I could tell you were uncomfortable, so I made an excuse to help you out. Your mom would’ve never let us go if I hadn’t told her I had to leave.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“That was really thoughtful of you.”

“You barely touched your breakfast. Did your mom say something about watching your weight? I noticed you only had one bite before you were done. Did she say something this morning?”

Marian’s mother seems to have a tight grip on her life, which isn’t surprising in wealthy families. The family’s image often rests on how the children are perceived, and maintaining a spotless reputation is their top priority.

“No, she didn’t. I just wasn’t that hungry. Let’s go to school. I don’t want to be late.”

“Don’t skip lunch, though. You have to take care of yourself. If you’d like, I could pick you up later, and we could grab dinner at our favorite place. That might cheer you up.”

“No, I’ve got exams coming up. I need to study after school.”

Melo seemed surprised by my response. It was as though Nermin’s personality was showing through, and I couldn’t fully suppress it. Still, I was relieved that I had managed to keep any serious doubts from forming in his mind. He could suspect whatever he wanted, but there was no way he could truly know what had happened.

After about fifteen minutes, we arrived at the high school. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was surrounded by at least ten girls. One hugged me, another kissed me, and one even burst into tears, clutching my hand tightly. It was an overwhelming experience—these girls were so concerned about me, as if they’d missed me dearly. Throughout the morning, I heard constant expressions of relief and joy from my classmates and teachers, especially the English teacher. It was exhausting, having to keep smiling and respond to everyone who came to check on me and celebrate my return. The most frustrating part? No one asked about *me*—Nermin—or showed any sympathy for what I had been through. Their concern was all for Marian. What about me? Didn’t I deserve to be noticed too? Did I have to be their friend to be worthy of some attention, some care? I felt so invisible, to the point where I started blaming myself, wondering if I was somehow responsible for the way they were treating me.

During the break, I escaped to the gym, seeking some solitude in the basketball court. I desperately needed time alone to sort through my thoughts. I had been overwhelmed for four hours. How did Marian deal with this every day? Or did it actually make her happy? I was genuinely curious because, from the outside, Marian seemed like a popular, beloved figure. But now that I was in her shoes, I realized how exhausting it must be to constantly live up to everyone’s expectations.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Someone had entered the gym. The sound grew closer until the person stopped in front of me, staring at me with a look that was very different from the others. Their expression held no joy—just pure hatred.