Leaving my apartment has become harder as time passes. My legs feel heavy whenever I even think about stepping outside. The crowded streets, the constant hum of people talking and moving—it's overwhelming. My social anxiety chains me to this tiny, cluttered world. So, I stay in. I mostly play video games, eat, and sleep. The days blur together, each one as uneventful as the last. Sometimes, I wonder if anyone even notices I'm here. Maybe Akira does. I wish she would come back.
This morning was a bit different. I usually wake up at noon, but the sunlight gleaming through the shutters woke me up, just like my sister used to. I decided to get up and finish my favorite video game when I was interrupted by the doorbell. At first, I tried to ignore it like I usually do, but then I heard my name being called. "Hey, Mahitooo! It's me, Kaede!"
I froze mid-step. My heart raced as memories of my childhood friend Kaede came flooding back. Her voice was so familiar yet distant, a comforting echo of better times. I ran to the door, then stopped dead in my tracks. My eyes darted around the room. Wrappers littered the table, laundry overflowed in the corner, and the faint smell of instant noodles lingered in the air. My chest tightened. "She can't see me like this," I thought.
A million thoughts raced through my head. "Will she like the new me?" "What will she think of this mess?" "Why is she here?"
The room spun as my anxiety took over. My legs gave out beneath me, and before I could even reach the door, everything faded to black.
I squinted as everything around me seemed painfully bright. My head throbbed, and I could faintly hear the sending a jolt through my already shaky body. Slowly, the room came back into focus. Kaede must have heard me fall.
Summoning all my remaining strength, I crawled toward the door. My hand fumbled with the lock, and the door swung open as I lost my balance. I collapsed in a heap at Kaede's feet, my vision fading once again into darkness.