The good daughter

At home she often retreats to her bedroom. Her family sees a daughter who follows instructions. The public sees the first hybrid, the storm survivor, the girl with the scar, the resonance that makes her significant.

Under that, she contains anger, appetite, shame, and a craving for danger, parties, and the feeling of being alive rather than observed. Being controlled feels safer than being examined.

A danger-seeking night goes too far and nearly risks Luna’s life. Alexandra sends a resonance distress signal. Other people feel it. The story spreads. She is not only afraid of punishment. She is exposed. She knows that other people know.

Her answer is more compliance, not rebellion. Yes comes faster. The bedroom door closes more often. Following every rule becomes a way to stop the examination.

Luna is the person Alexandra chooses to trust. Luna knew her before the storm, the scar, and the fame. Finn is different. Alexandra does not hate him. She does not trust him, so she does not perform the polished version. She corrects him, argues, and shows the tells she usually hides.

Luna is the person Alexandra chooses to trust. Finn is the person Alexandra accidentally lets see her.

On her first night on Afterimage she dreams of yelling at Molly. Not at Mother wearing a face. At her actual mother, in the one place the waking mask cannot stop her.

• I’m tired of everybody knowing when I’m scared.
• I’m tired of everybody watching me.
• I’m tired of being good.
• I know what happened with Luna.
• I know I could have hurt her.
• I don’t need everybody waiting to see if I’ll do it again.

Molly does not have to have been cruel for this anger to be real. Alexandra loves her and still carries pressure, resentment, and the fear of disappointing her. She has not yet learned that those truths can coexist.