The girl I never chose to be

The room was silent, but Angelica could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Her father stood in front of the door, blocking her path, his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but the firmness in his stance made one thing clear—he would not let her leave.

Behind her, her mother’s voice was softer, almost soothing. "Where were you planning to go, Angelica?"

Hearing that name made something inside her snap.

"I am not Angelica!" she screamed, her voice raw with frustration. "I was never Angelica! You turned me into this!"

Her mother stepped forward, shaking her head. "No, sweetheart. We helped you become who you truly are."

Angelica clenched her fists. "I was happy before!"

Her father sighed, rubbing his temples like he was growing tired of the conversation. "You think you were happy. But you were confused, Angel. You never truly knew yourself. That’s why we had to guide you."

Her mother reached out, gently brushing Angelica’s cheek. Her touch was warm, affectionate—but Angelica flinched away.

Her mother’s smile didn’t falter. "Look at yourself, my love."

Angelica hesitated.

Her father pointed to the hallway mirror. "Even now, wearing those clothes, trying to run… you still look like a girl."

Angelica turned slowly to face the mirror.

And there she was.

Even in the dim light, even in the boy’s clothes she had stuffed into her bag, she still looked wrong.

Her hair was too long, her posture too refined. The softness of her face, the delicacy of her hands—she no longer looked like Angel.

She looked like Angelica in a costume.

Her mother’s voice was gentle, like a lullaby. "You don’t have to fight anymore, sweetheart. Just come back inside."

Angelica’s fingers loosened around the bag.

The walls felt like they were closing in on her, trapping her inside the identity she never chose.

But when she looked into her mother’s eyes—so full of love, so full of certainty—she felt her last piece of resistance crack.

Her father sighed in relief. "Good girl."

Angelica felt something shatter inside her.

And the last piece of Angel disappeared.