Facade

Blood spread slowly across the white marble floor, staining the pristine white surface a deep crimson. The metallic scent of blood filled the room. Maya struggled to breathe. Every breath felt like dragging broken glass through her lungs. A sharp, burning pain spread through her chest with each inhale, making it harder to stay conscious. Warm blood pooled beneath her body, soaking through her dress and spreading across the cold marble. The ceiling above her blurred in and out of focus. So this was how it ended. After everything she had endured, after all the years she had spent trying to make everyone around her happy, this was the end waiting for her. Her gaze slowly shifted upward until it settled on the trembling figure standing a few feet away, Kelly. A bloodstained knife hung loosely from her right hand. Crimson droplets slid from its tip, hitting the floor one by one with soft, sickening taps. Her entire body trembled violently. Her pale face had drained of all color, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. "No..." Kelly whispered, barely audible. Her breathing became uneven. "This... this wasn't supposed to happen." Maya almost laughed. Almost. Instead, another cough escaped her lips. Blood splattered onto the marble. Of course it wasn't supposed to happen. Kelly had dreamed about this moment for years. She had imagined that killing Maya would finally erase every wound in her heart. That revenge would finally make her feel whole. Instead, she looked even more shattered than the person she had stabbed. The silence stretched between them. Kelly slowly lifted her eyes, they met Maya's. To her surprise, Maya smiled. It wasn't a bitter smile. Nor was it one filled with hatred. It was gentle. Almost sympathetic. Kelly's eyes widened. "Why?" she shouted suddenly, her voice cracking. She stumbled forward. "Why are you smiling?" Her breathing became more frantic. "You're dying!" she screamed. "Why are you smiling?" The knife slipped from her fingers and clattered loudly against the marble floor. Maya simply watched her, she looked at her silently. Kelly still didn't understand. "I knew..." Maya whispered weakly. Kelly frowned. "What?" "I knew..." Every word hurt. "I knew... you'd do this." Confusion flashed across Kelly's tear-filled face. "W-What are you talking about?" Maya's faint smile remained. "I've always..." She struggled to breathe. "...known you." Kelly stared blankly. Those words made no sense. If Maya knew, why hadn't she stopped it? why hadn't she run? Why hadn't she fought back? Why had she continued treating Kelly like her closest friend? Kelly opened her mouth, desperate to ask another question. But Maya spoke first. "So..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Tired..." Her eyelids grew heavier. Her vision darkened around the edges. Images from her life flashed before her eyes. Her first day of school. Holding her mother's hand. Meeting Kelly for the first time. Sharing lunch together. Laughing over silly jokes. Studying late into the night. Protecting Kelly whenever others misunderstood her. Trusting her. Believing her. Only to die by the very hands she had once held. How pathetic. She forgave people who never regretted hurting her. A bitter smile touched her lips. Maybe she had been the biggest fool of all. Her heartbeat slowed. The pain gradually faded, replaced by a strange numbness. Everything became quiet. If there truly was another life, she wouldn't repeat the same mistakes. Her lips moved one last time. "Never..." Darkness swallowed everything. "Maya!" A familiar voice echoed through the darkness. "Maya! Wake up! You'll be late for school!" Her eyes flew open. She gasped sharply, instinctively clutching her chest. No pain. No blood. Her breathing was fast and uneven. For several seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling above her. It wasn't the elegant marble ceiling from before. Instead, it was the plain white ceiling of her childhood bedroom. Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. Birds chirped outside. Someone knocked on the bedroom door. "Maya?" Her mother's voice. "Hurry up! Kelly's already waiting for you!" Kelly, the name sent a chill racing down her spine. Maya shot upright. Her hands immediately searched her chest. No wound. No blood. Nothing. She slowly climbed out of bed. Her legs trembled beneath her. Step by step, she walked toward the mirror hanging beside her wardrobe. She froze. Looking back at her was a sixteen-year-old girl. Long black hair. Bright eyes untouched by years of suffering. Smooth skin. No scars. No exhaustion. No despair. Just her younger self. Maya slowly reached toward the mirror. Her fingertips touched the cool glass. "This..." Her voice barely came out. "...can't be real." Another knock interrupted her thoughts. "Maya!" her mother called again. "You'll both miss the bus!" Maya closed her eyes. Then opened them again. The reflection remained the same. Her heart pounded. "So..." She whispered softly. "It really happened." She had returned. Back to the beginning. Back before the betrayals. Back before the lies. Back before the knife. Back before everything fell apart.This time, things would be different. Very different. Looking back, there had been signs. Tiny pauses. Forced smiles. Strange silences. She had ignored every one of them. Not anymore. This time, she would watch. She would remember. She would learn. Most importantly, she would survive. After getting dressed, Maya walked downstairs. Her mother smiled as she handed her breakfast. "You nearly overslept today." Maya forced a small smile, "I guess I was tired." "You should apologize to Kelly. She's been waiting for nearly ten minutes." Maya quietly nodded. She picked up her schoolbag and stepped outside. The cool morning breeze brushed against her face. The neighborhood looked exactly as she remembered. Children laughed as they walked to school. A bicycle rolled past. Dogs barked somewhere in the distance. Everything looked peaceful. Then she saw her. Kelly stood beside the gate wearing her school uniform. Exactly sixteen years old. Exactly as Maya remembered. Bright smile. Warm eyes. Perfect posture. Anyone seeing her would think she was the sweetest girl in the world. Kelly noticed her immediately. "There you are!" she said cheerfully. "I thought you forgot about me." The smile on her face looked genuine. So genuine that Maya almost questioned whether everything had truly happened. Their eyes met. Kelly smiled warmly. Maya smiled back. Her smile was just as gentle. Just as convincing. Inside, She felt nothing. Not affection. Not trust. Only calm determination. "Let's see..." She thought quietly, "How long it takes you to start hating me this time."