The walls that bind

Chapter 3: The Mask

Ava put on a mask of compliance, pretending to be the obedient daughter her parents expected her to be. She went through the motions, attending school, completing her homework, and participating in extracurricular activities. But beneath the surface, she was seething.As she walked through the school hallways, Ava felt like she was living in a dream. Everyone around her seemed to be going through the same motions, pretending to be someone they weren't. She wondered if she was the only one who felt this way.Ava's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her name being called. It was her best friend, Emily, waving at her from across the hallway. Ava forced a smile and made her way over to Emily, trying to put on a convincing act of enthusiasm."Hey, Em!" Ava said, trying to sound excited. "What's up?"Emily launched into a detailed account of her weekend, and Ava listened attentively, nodding and making supportive noises. But Ava's mind was elsewhere, thinking about her own weekend and how she was going to get through it.As they walked to their lockers, Ava felt a pang of guilt. Emily was a good friend, and she deserved better than Ava's half-hearted attention. But Ava couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped, stuck in a life she didn't choose.