I woke up in the morning. Everything was normal. The alarm buzzed like a thousand angry bees, and before I could hit snooze, I heard Mom yelling from the kitchen, "Hey girl, wake up!"
"I'm up, Mom!" I groaned, though my eyes were still half-closed. I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, debating whether to lie back down. But I knew better. One more minute in bed, and I'd be running late again.
I forced myself out from under the warm blanket and shuffled into the bathroom. The cold water slapped the sleep from my face. School days always started like this-rushed, predictable, a little dull.
When I came to the dining table, Mom had already laid out breakfast-bread with a thin spread of butter and sweet tea. Elian, my elder brother, sat across from me, scrolling through his phone. He always seemed so composed in the morning, which annoyed me a little.
Just as I picked up my toast, Elian nudged my elbow, making me spill a bit of tea.
"Hey!" I snapped.
He smirked. "Good morning to you, too."
"Mom! He's irritating me again!" I called out, dramatically.
Mom didn't even peek out of the kitchen. "Elian, stop bothering your sister!"
He put his hands up like he was innocent. "I didn't even do anything."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help grinning. Moments like this, no matter how repetitive, gave some rhythm to my otherwise ordinary mornings.
School was the same blur it always was. I walked through the front gates, passed the same crowd of noisy students, and sat through classes that felt longer than ever. In Math class, my brain tapped out halfway through the equations. My mind kept drifting-like it always does.
My friends, Lily and Rose, were chatting excitedly beside me about their weekend plans. Rose leaned over. "Hey Ava, coffee shop after school?"
I hesitated. "I think I'll skip today."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Skipping out again? Drama calling?"
I gave a sheepish grin. "Maybe."
They laughed, shaking their heads. They knew me too well.
To be honest, I couldn't wait to get home. Are you wondering why I was so eager? Maybe you think there was something exciting waiting for me.
Well, in a way, there was.
A new episode had just dropped-of my favorite drama. You know, the kind with picture-perfect characters, storylines that make your heart race, and moments that feel like magic.
As soon as the final bell rang, I rushed home, barely said goodbye, and practically flew through the front door.
"Lunch is on the table!" Mom called, not even looking up from the kitchen.
"Thanks!" I replied, quickly scarfing it down so I could escape into my room.
There, I curled up on my bed, clicked play, and let the fictional world sweep me away.
On the screen, the lead girl tripped over her own feet and fell-only to land safely in the arms of the charming male lead. Cue the romantic music, the close-up shot of their locked eyes, and the wind that always seemed to blow at the perfect moment.
My heart fluttered. I sighed.
Why is their life so fascinating? Why does mine feel so plain?
They always find love, get surprised with grand gestures, and somehow, they're always seen for who they truly are. Even when they cry, their mascara doesn't smudge.
I used to believe-maybe I still do-that someone would walk into my life just like that. Unexpected, magical, and utterly perfect. That one day, my world would change. Like the way it changes for those girls in the dramas. Like the universe had a secret plan waiting for me.
That's how I used to think earlier.
But now... I'm not so sure.
Because when the screen fades to black, the only thing left is silence. My room, my books, my life-waiting for me to return.
Still, I hit play again. Just one more time.
Maybe it's silly, but watching dramas made me feel like there was still hope. Like I could find something more than just ordinary days and ordinary problems.
Even if I'm not the lead in a drama, even if I'm just Ava-quiet, average, full of doubts-there's a little voice inside me that hopes.
And sometimes, hope is all we need to keep going.
Little did I know, real life had its own drama planned for me. Not the scripted kind. But the kind that sneaks in when you least expect it.
The kind that doesn't come with background music.
The kind that changes everything.
YOU ARE READING
When Dreams Start To Fade
RandomAva always thought life would feel like a drama-magical and perfect. But as she faces fake friends, class pressure, and quiet heartbreaks, she begins to see the truth. This is a story about growing up, letting go of fantasies, and learning that real...
