-Elizabeth-
As I stepped into the shower that morning, the hot water enveloped me like a warm embrace, washing away the remnants of anxiety that had clung to me since the move. The steam fogged the mirrors, much like the haze in my mind. I let the water cascade down my back, and I closed my eyes, allowing the rhythmic patter to drown out the chaos of thoughts swirling within. Every droplet felt like a small victory, urging me to reclaim a sense of normalcy, like a renewed promise to myself that I could weave life back together, even if the threads were frayed and mismatched.
Dressing in comfortable jogging gear was another small act of defiance against my own turbulent emotions. I tucked my hair beneath a baseball cap, a deliberate choice to shield my identity from the world around me. T
