Semua Bab Beyond The Reflection: Bab 1 - Bab 4

A sleek black limousine arrived at the curb, its polished surface gleaming even through the downpour. It was the kind of car I’d only ever seen in magazines. It felt so out of place here, in this neighborhood, on this broken street, that I almost questioned if I was imagining it. The driver’s door opened. A man in a tailored black suit stepped out, his shining shoes somehow avoiding the puddles. He opened a massive black umbrella, the kind that looked like it cost more than my entire wardrobe. He moved to the back door. It swung open, and then she stepped out. At first, my brain struggled to comprehend what I was seeing. The woman emerging from the limousine was me. I wasn't the drenched, shivering person standing in the rain with squishy sneakers. No, this was me in another life. Her coat was impeccably tailored, hugging her figure perfectly. Her heels clicked confidently on the wet pavement. Her hair was styled in an elegant twist, every strand in place. Her skin glowed, radiant

Lilia POV Morning came way too swiftly.The alarm on my cracked phone buzzed feebly, more noise than sound, but it still managed to jolt me out of bed. My eyes felt heavy, burning with that kind of exhaustion no amount of sleep could shake off. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and the floor met my feet with its familiar chill.For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the peeling paint on the wall. I let myself briefly imagine that maybe life would give me just one more day of grace. Just one. But then, from the next room, came the sound that always crushed me: my mother’s deep, raspy cough, rattling through her chest like chains dragging on stone.That thought shattered.I got up.My morning routine was practically automatic by now. Boil some water. Slice the stale bread thin so it lasts. Put on a smile to wake my siblings, even though it never felt genuine. My little brother blinked up at me, his curls sticking out all over, eyes heavy with sleep. My sister tugged at my s