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>>>>>>>>>>> The quiet room around her was steeped in shadows, the only light coming from a nearby lamp, casting a faint glow across her face as she gazed into the mirror. Karrizma's eyes lingered on her own reflection, but she felt as if she was looking at someone else. Or rather, someones. The faces of her other selves were etched subtly into her own—a flicker of Kamari's hardness in the set of her jaw, a glint of Kaylen's calm intensity in her gaze. They were with her now, silent but present, lingering just beneath the surface.
Tonight felt different, though. Standing here, studying her reflection, she felt the tug of memories rising, like shadows casting themselves forward, eager to be known. She'd lived so long with these fragmented parts of herself that she sometimes forgot when it had all begun, back when her world was small, and everything seemed both warm and dangerous.
Her fingers brushed the glass softly as she closed her eyes, letting herself slip away into that distant past. The memories unfolded, pieces of herself long hidden, reaching up to greet her.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Three-year-old Karrizma clung to her mother's shoulder, her small fingers wrapped tightly around a worn, gray plush rabbit with long ears and one missing button eye. The toy was her constant companion, her comfort in this small, uncertain world. Nestled in her mother's arms, she felt safe, the familiar scent of coco butter and warm skin surrounding her like a cocoon.
She didn't understand much at three, but she knew her mother's lullabies by heart. She knew the way her mother's hands would gently brush through her hair, the rhythm of her voice as she hummed softly. It was the sound of peace, a delicate melody that wrapped around her like a blanket. Her mother's voice was like a shield, blocking out everything else, and Karrizma burrowed closer, closing her eyes as the lullaby filled her ears.
But the peace was short-lived.
A loud crash shattered the stillness, jolting Karrizma awake. Her eyes flew open, her small body tensing as she looked up at her mother, who was frozen, her face pale and her lips pressed into a thin line. Another crash followed, and this time, she heard her father's voice—loud, angry, filled with a sharpness that made her stomach twist.
Karrizma's mother pulled her close, her arms tightening around her. She whispered something, her voice shaky, but Karrizma couldn't make out the words. She felt her mother's heartbeat, quick and unsteady, against her own chest. The lullaby was gone, replaced by a tense silence that seemed to press down on her like a weight.
"Mommy?" she whispered, her voice small and uncertain. She looked up, searching her mother's face for answers, for some sign that everything was okay.
Her mother forced a smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's okay, baby. It's going to be okay." Her voice was soft, but Karrizma could hear the tremor in it. Her mother's fingers stroked her hair, but the touch was tense, trembling slightly. "Just close your eyes. Just for a little while, okay?"
