2

The cold Chicago wind howled outside, rattling the fragile windows of the ramshackle house on the outskirts of the city. The neighborhood was made up of narrow streets full of cracks, decrepit houses that always seemed on the verge of falling apart. The asphalt was dotted with puddles of dirty water, and the streetlights flickered as if they were going to go out at any moment. Inside one of the rooms of the house forgotten by time, a young woman stared at her reflection in the cracked mirror, her silver eyes filled with uncertainty.

Mia sighed. Her platinum white hair fell loosely down her back, contrasting with her pale, smooth skin. Her curvaceous body, full breasts and slim waist were evidence of her transition into adulthood, but even so, something about her always seemed out of place. Her plump, inviting mouth curved into an expression of discontent. Why did she feel so out of place? Why did she always feel like she didn't belong anywhere? She wanted to see herself as a normal girl, but she knew her life was far from that.

That night, however, something was different. She wasn't just analyzing her appearance. She was evaluating herself. And all because Liam Nevil had asked her out.

Liam was the first boy Mia had ever had feelings for. Tall, strong, with dark hair and an easy smile, he was different from all the other boys at school. And after two years of living in the same town - something that had never happened before - she began to allow herself to dream. To dream that she could have a normal life. That she could, for the first time, live like any other teenager. But when she looked at her own reflection, all she saw was a strange girl, a girl who didn't belong in this world.

She closed her eyes and pushed the negative thoughts away. She allowed herself to remember her childhood, the countless times she had to run away in the middle of the night. The first time, fourteen years ago, had been terrifying, but Mia was only a little girl of three and, back then, she thought everything was an adventure. She didn't mind packing her little suitcases and leaving everything behind when her mother, Elisa, said that the bad men had found them. She thought she was a princess on the run from the evil witch's minions. But over time, things changed.

As she grew up, Mia realized that her life was a real disaster. She was always the new student, the outsider, the one who never stayed long enough in one place to put down roots. Whenever her mother or grandparents thought they were being watched, they ran away. Whenever a suspicious car seemed to pass by the street where they lived too often, they disappeared in the dead of night. But the worst was the day her mother pulled her out of school in a fit of hysteria. Mia was only ten years old and was terrified to see the teachers and principal calling the police. Her mother spent the night in jail, and the next day, before the sun came up, they were on the run again.

The memory still haunted her, but not as much as what happened when she turned thirteen.

That year, her body was seized by violent cramps, followed by an overwhelming fever. She spent three days locked in the damp, musty basement of the house where they lived at the time, begging her mother to take her to hospital. But Elisa just cried and prayed, while her grandparents watched in silence. The fear in her mother's eyes said more than any words. Mia thought she was going to die. And when Elisa finally gave in, saying “That's enough, let's go and find your father, only he can help you now”, Mia was in shock. Until that moment, her mother had always claimed that her father had died before she was born.

But on the fourth day, the fever passed. Mia's body returned to normal, and her grandparents celebrated, saying it was a false alarm. Elisa went back on her word, insisting that her father was dead and that it was all just a temporary outbreak.

It was the first time it had happened. But not the last.

She had another crisis when she was fourteen. And another at fifteen. But fortunately, at sixteen and seventeen, nothing happened. She wanted to believe that, whatever it was, she was cured. And so Chicago was her first real opportunity to live without fear.

Two years. Two long years living in the same place. Going to the same school. Creating bonds.

And now, Liam Nevil had asked her out.

Mia felt a chill in her stomach at the thought of it. Her heart beat faster. What if something went wrong? What if her mother suddenly thought they were being watched again? What if she was forced to run away once again?

She turned away from the mirror and threw herself on the bed, covering her face with her hands. She wanted this life so much. She wanted so much to be a normal girl. But fate seemed to hate her.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway made her heart race. The bedroom door opened and her mother appeared, her brown eyes tired and her expression worried.

“Mia, is everything all right?” Elisa asked, her voice soft but full of constant concern.

Mia hesitated. She thought about telling her about Liam, about the invitation. But part of her feared her mother's reaction.

“Yes... I was just thinking. “She forced a smile.”

Elisa watched her for a moment, as if trying to read her mind. Then she sighed and went into the bedroom, sitting down next to her daughter on the bed.

“You know that if there's anything wrong, you can tell me, don't you?” she said, stroking her daughter's white hair.

Mia closed her eyes. Yes, she knew. But she also knew that telling would mean running the risk of her mother freaking out and deciding that they needed to run away again.

“I know, Mom.” She opened her eyes and smiled. “It's okay.”

Elisa smiled back, but there was something in her eyes. Something Mia couldn't decipher. After a long moment, her mother stood up.

“I'm fine. Good night, darling.” She kissed her forehead and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Mia stared at the ceiling. Would she ever be free? Could she ever live without the weight of fear on her shoulders?

And, most importantly... would she ever discover the truth about herself?

Sighing, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep. But in the back of her mind, an unsettling feeling began to form.

As if something was about to change.

As if fate was waiting for the right moment to intervene again.