That One Real Smile

Prologue: Slipping Away

I don't let people in. There's no point. Sooner or later, everything fades-dreams, plans, even time itself. I learned that the hard way. The future isn't something I think about anymore. Not because I don't want to, but because I know it isn't mine to have.

It's easier this way. Keep moving. Keep existing. No hopes, no attachments, no regrets.

And then she came along.

Athena. Too stubborn, too bright-standing like the most magnificent lamp of heaven in a world I've already dimmed. She wasn't supposed to matter. I wasn't supposed to care.

But something about her made me hesitate. And hesitation is dangerous.

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[UNDER REVISION]

"One Real Smile" will undergo revision to enhance clarity and provide a deeper understanding of the story. Additional chapters will be included to elaborate on details that were not fully explored in the current version. Thank you for your support and patience as I work to improve the narrative.