I hummed a low, familiar tone as I combed through my curly hair, smiling at my reflection. My blue eyes shone with happiness. I couldn't tell why I was happy, but my younger self seemed to know, and I could feel it. The emotion was intense, deep, and gripping.

I grinned, reaching out to touch my image in the mirror. “Pretty,” I mouthed, giggling.

Seeing my younger self in the mirror gave me a nostalgic feeling. It reminded me of those nights when I cried myself to sleep because of the ...