The waves crash against your feet, the cool water swirling around your legs. You stand there, staring out into the vast emptiness, feeling like you could disappear into it. The pain inside you is too much to hold, and tears slip down your face. Everything has fallen apart. Your parents, who once loved you unconditionally, disowned you when you chose your own path. Your boyfriend, the one person you thought would always be there, walked away without a second glance.

You feel numb, as if life has drained out of you completely. The water, so vast and forgiving, whispers a tempting promise. What if you just let go? What if you let the waves take you? No one would have to worry about you anymore. No more pain. No more disappointment.

You begin to walk deeper, the water rising higher, until it pulls at your ankles and calves. Your heart aches. This is where it ends.

"Cut!" The director's voice jolts you back to reality, but you barely hear him. You're lost in your sorrow, your thoughts clouding everything else. You don’t notice the retakes or the chattering behind the camera. You can’t hear their words, can’t feel their eyes on you.

"Perfect," someone says. "This is the best take yet." They laugh, but you don't join in. The sound of their laughter feels distant, irrelevant. Justine, the lead actor, watches the playback of your scene. He notices something. Or rather, he notices that something isn't right.

"Where's she?" he asks suddenly, his voice urgent. His eyes scan the set, searching for you.

He's too late. You’re already too far.

You hear his footsteps splashing through the water, and before you can comprehend what’s happening, strong arms wrap around you. You’re pulled from the depths of the ocean. Gasping, your eyes snap open, and the realization hits you like a punch to the chest.

Justine’s face is pale, his expression filled with horror and confusion. "You— you weren’t acting?" he whispers, voice trembling.