~LAUREN’S POV~

I stared at my reflection in the mirror like I was waiting to recognize myself again. Same girl. Same long, wavy black hair.

Same hazel eyes that never quite gave away enough.

Same cherry lips that trembled more than they smiled lately.

I was still me. That’s what I kept telling myself.

But no one tells you that sometimes you can look the same and still feel like a stranger inside your skin.

I let out a shaky breath, grabbing the towel from the rack. I wrapped it tightly around myself as if the pressure could somehow hold me together.

Dinner.

I laughed under my breath. The kind...