I woke before the alarm, eyes snapping open to soft morning light spilling through the curtains.

Today was the day.

The Thailand trip.

The day everything changed—from my appearance to my agenda.

Stretching, I let the blanket slide off my body and padded barefoot to the bathroom. The cold tiles shocked me awake. I splashed water on my face, blinking at my reflection: messy hair, sleepy eyes, and the faint memory of a dream I couldn’t recall. But this wasn’t a day for dreams.

It was a day ...