Skylar's phone lit up with a new notification — another like on her latest post. A filtered photo of her standing under a city mural, glowing with perfect lighting and the kind of effortless smile that earned thousands of hearts online. But as she stared at the screen, the polished image felt like a mask tightening around her real self.
The city hummed outside her window, neon signs flickering to life as the sun dipped below the skyline. Skylar pulled her hoodie tighter around her shoulders, careful to hide the nervous tremble in her hands. Tonight was important — band practice, then the secret meeting with Alex. There was a thrill in the forbidden.
Her reflection in the black screen looked back at her: bright eyes masked with careful calm, lips curved into a practiced smile. If only the real Skylar could be as confident as the digital one.
She slid open her locker at school, the stickers peeling at the edges, revealing a snapshot of the messy, chaotic teen beneath the online persona. Inside, a notebook filled with lyrics and half-written songs. One page caught her eye, words scrawled in rushed handwriting:
"Love in shadows, hearts unspoken,
Finding light where truth is broken."
Her phone buzzed again — a message from Alex: "Tonight. After practice. Don't be late."
A flutter of excitement mixed with anxiety burst in her chest. The underground club where they met was their secret escape, the place where masks dropped and Skylar could breathe.
In the classroom, faces blurred as Skylar stared out the window, imagining the pulse of the city at night. Tonight, she would step closer to a truth she had kept tucked away, fearful yet craving the freedom that only honesty could bring.