Astrid was in her bedroom, the pale morning light filtering through the blinds, casting faint stripes across her walls. She sat on her bed, knees pulled to her chest, her gaze wandering across the room. The faded posters of her favorite bands and the cluttered desk overflowing with forgotten trinkets whispered stories of a simpler past.
The silence was suffocating, pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. She reached for her iPod and earphones, plugging them in with trembling hands, and let the music drown out the quiet. Lying back on her bed, she whispered to herself, "One last normal day…" Her eyelids grew heavy as she closed them, willing sleep to take her away.
...
