Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: The Mirror That Never Lies

The sunlight seeped through the curtains, signaling the start of another day, but this time, it felt different. His body felt heavier than usual, his mind foggy from sleep and the restless thoughts that had kept him up late. As he slowly opened his eyes, a familiar sensation crept in — the nagging urge to grab his phone and check for the next chapter of the latest web novel. But today… today was supposed to be different. He stayed still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, wondering if he could resist. The room felt unusually quiet. The only sound was the soft hum of the fan. He turned his head, and there it was. The mirror across the room. The same mirror he had been staring at last night, the one that had refused to let him look away, the one that showed him the truth he never wanted to face. His reflection — acne-covered skin, a body that lacked strength, a face that lacked the spark he wished he had. A sigh escaped his lips. But then his phone, sitting on the nightstand, caught his eye. His fingers twitched at the thought of unlocking it, opening that one app, just like he had done every morning. Just one chapter, that's all. He told himself he would read just one. One chapter wouldn't hurt. He could stop after that. Just one chapter. He told himself that he deserved it. After all, the night had been long. The anxiety from his thoughts, from the mirror, from the reflection of himself — it was exhausting. He needed something to distract him, something to take his mind off the uncertainty that he couldn't seem to escape. His phone glowed, the screen practically calling out to him. It was so easy to give in. He could open it, get lost in the story, feel the rush of escape. A little mental vacation from the reality he had just started facing. But then, something inside him hesitated. What if today was different? He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the moment. He had tried this before — telling himself he would change, telling himself that tomorrow would be the day. But today… today could be the day. His gaze shifted from his phone to the mirror again, to the boy he didn't want to be. The same boy that had spent so many hours glued to the phone, diving deeper into worlds that didn't exist, trying to forget the world around him. He took a deep breath. Just one chapter won't hurt, right? He rolled over, his body moving against his own will. His phone was right there, so easy to reach. He was about to reach for it, but then something stopped him. Is this who you want to be? The words echoed in his mind, like a whisper. He didn't know where they came from, but they felt like a wake-up call. He froze, his hand hovering over the phone. The battle inside him raged. Excuses flooded his mind. It's only one day. What's the harm? You're not ready to change anyway. Just a quick escape, that's all. But then, another thought emerged — a stronger one, something that had been gnawing at him for days. What if today was the day you stopped making excuses? He glanced at his reflection in the mirror again. The boy in the glass was waiting for him, staring back with a silent challenge. He could stay trapped in this cycle forever, always making excuses. But deep down, he knew he was better than that. He had to be. He sat up, still unsure, but he knew he couldn't keep letting his phone dictate his life. Not today. He sighed again, heavier this time. It wasn't easy. Nothing about this was easy. The battle with himself was like a weight pressing on his chest. But as he stood up from the bed, something shifted. He had made it through one moment. The phone, still calling out to him, seemed a little farther away now, almost like it didn't hold as much power over him as it had before. He walked to the bathroom, leaving it behind. Today could be the start of something different. He wasn't sure how to change. He didn't know what the path ahead looked like. But he knew one thing — he couldn't keep letting the screen control his life. He faced the mirror again, this time not as a reflection of disappointment, but as a reminder. He had just made the hardest choice of the day. And maybe, just maybe, that would lead to making harder choices later on. Choices that would change his life. As he splashed water on his face, he felt something stir inside him. It wasn't much, but it was enough to give him hope. Just a little glimmer.