Everyone sits together, laughter and the clatter of cutlery filling the room. Elena, a teenager with gentle eyes and a practiced, easy smile, offers her family seconds of mashed potatoes. Her smile is flawless, but her gaze occasionally drifts to the window, following the rivulets of rain as if searching for escape. The pressure in her chest is invisible to everyone—even as she laughs along.

Elena sits hunched over her desk, her hands pressed against her temples. The ticking of the clock grows louder as she stares at a blank essay, knuckles white. Her phone buzzes with reminders—"Scholarship application due," "Math exam tomorrow." She closes her eyes and forces a smile before turning back to her work, the weight of expectation settling in her chest like wet sand.

Elena[/@ch_1] stands alone at her locker.] She organizes her books, her movements precise, her smile ever-present as classmates pass by. A friend waves, "Hey, Elena! Ready for the big test?" She nods, smile unwavering, "Of course. I studied all night." But as her friend hurries away, Elena sags briefly, clutching her books to her chest, her smile slipping for just a heartbeat.

Elena[/@ch_1] sits surrounded by classmates, all discussing answers and grades.] Elena laughs along, her answers always correct, her encouragements bright. Inside, the pressure mounts—the fear of failure, the longing to scream or cry, the desperate wish for someone to notice her trembling hands. She listens as a friend says, "You're so lucky, Elena. Everything's easy for you." Elena only smiles, nodding, her heart aching for someone to ask, "Are you really okay?"

Elena stands before her mirror, peeling off her smile like a mask. She hugs herself tightly, tears slipping down her cheeks—silent, careful, so no one will hear. Her reflection seems foreign, eyes red-rimmed, the exhaustion vivid beneath her practiced smile. She whispers into the quiet, "Please, just once, ask me if I'm okay."

Elena[/@ch_1] sits alone on a bench, her expression thoughtful, the mask of her smile softer, almost gone.] A teacher approaches, eyes kind, sitting beside her. "Elena, I've noticed you always seem happy, but sometimes I wonder—are you really all right?" For a long moment, Elena's practiced smile fades, and tears fill her eyes, relief and fear mingling. She nods, voice trembling, "No, I'm not. But thank you for asking." The morning sun rises slowly, warm and gentle, promising that healing can begin.