That night, I stood on my balcony overlooking the glittering city. It was supposed to feel magical — like the world was at my feet.
Instead, it felt suffocating.
The cold wind whipped through my thin body, and for a moment, I wondered if I jumped, would anyone even notice I was gone?
Would they just post my best photos, caption it with "Gone too soon," and then move on?
My phone buzzed in my hand.
A text from Jasper.
"Don't give up. You're stronger than you think."
Tears filled my eyes.
Maybe he didn’t know everything, but somehow… somehow, he knew enough.
---
Weeks blurred into months.
I kept working. I kept starving. I kept smiling.
Every compliment about my body was a dagger wrapped in velvet.
"You're perfect."
"You're what every girl wants to be."
"You're the dream."
No one ever asked how I was really doing.
No one wanted to know.
---
One evening, after a long day of casting calls, I found myself sitting cross-legged on my kitchen floor, picking at a dry piece of toast.
Mom called.
"Are you keeping it tight?" she asked without greeting.
"Yeah," I whispered.
"Good. Just a few more months, baby. You're almost there."
Almost there.
Almost what?
Dead?
I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to scream, I'm not okay, Mom! I'm dying and no one cares!
But all I said was, "I know. Love you."
---
