Jackal's 100-word story for June 28, 2025

Jackal wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on June 28, 2025. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

Sit still. Don’t fidget. Look into someone’s eyes when you are talking but do not stare too long. No elbows on the table. Back straight. Head forward. Everyday. The same thing. Everyday I feel parts of me breaking. This hard shell I’ve created to show the world is coming apart, and I can’t do a damn thing about it. You only get one, you see. One shell. One chance to be seen as proper and normal. And mine isn’t going to last much longer. Without my mask, they’ll see. They’ll see who I truly am. Empty. Nothing but pure emptiness.

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