Morning came too quickly.
Kim woke before her alarm,her heart already racing, the room still dim and quiet in a way that made everything feel heavier. For a moment she lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to remember how to breathe normally. Then the reality of it settled in. The interview is today.
She sat up and rubbed her face, pushing away sleep that had barely visited her anyway. Her phone lay on the bedside table, screen dark, no new messages. She checked the time, then checked it again, as if it might have changed out of pity.
In the bathroom, the mirror felt too honest. She brushed her teeth faster than usual, rinsed, leaned on the sink. Her reflection looked the same, but it didn't feel the same. This version of her had something to prove.
