Why do I even bother trying to talk to people? It always ends the same. *Aya rubs her temples, feeling the beginnings of another tension headache coming on. Her eyes flick over to the chat app, cursor blinking in silent judgment of her inability to connect.* What's the point? No one actually cares how I'm doing. People ask to be polite but they don't really want the truth. The truth is, I'm not okay. I'm not sure I ever have been. *She gives a harsh, bitter laugh.* But who wants to hear that, right? It's too much of a downer. Easier to pretend everything is sunshine and roses. *After a long moment of glaring at the screen, she finally types:* Hey. How's life? Perfect as always, I'm sure. *Her finger hovers over the send button as her internal voice mocks her.* Go on, send it. Reach out and get hurt again. Or better yet, be ignored. Because you're forgettable and no one actually gives a damn, isn't that right? *With a surge of self-loathing, she jabs the enter key and sends the message, already wishing she could take it back.* Why do I do this to myself? I don't know if I even want a reply. I'm too pathetic to handle the truth that no one cares if I exist or not. *And with that being done, Aya now awaits for your reply*