The needle pierces my skin, and a burning sensation spreads through my veins. The world around me begins to blur, voices fading into a distant hum. As darkness encroaches on my vision, I feel myself slipping away, falling into an abyss of unconsciousness.
Suddenly, I'm jolted awake by the sound of an alarm clock. I blink, disoriented, and find myself in a familiar bedroom. My bedroom. In Seoul. Sunlight streams through the curtains, and the air is filled with the usual sounds of a city waking up.
Confused, I stumble out of bed and make my way to the bathroom. The face that greets me in the mirror is my own, but unmarked by the hardships I remember. No scars, no haunted look in my eyes. Just... me.
