Anna woke the next morning with a contented sigh, stretching languidly in her bed. The events of the previous night felt like a distant dream. She blinked sleepily, her gaze falling on the discarded dress and underwear still strewn across her bedroom floor.
A flicker of confusion passed through her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. Of course she'd gone out last night - hadn't she? The memories were hazy, but she recalled dancing, laughing with her friends, the warmth of a cute guy's hand on her waist...
As she stood and made her way to the bathroom, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.
Anna paused, studying her reflection intently. Something seemed off, but she couldn't quite place what it was. Her features were the same as always - soft brown eyes, button nose, full lips. And yet...
She leaned closer to the mirror. There was an unfamiliar glint in her eyes, a subtle shift in her expression that she couldn't explain. Anna shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her mind.
"Get it together," she muttered to herself, "You're just hungover."
Anna's hands moved over her body with practiced ease, but something felt different. She found herself lingering over certain areas, marveling at the softness of her skin and the curve of her hips.
"What's wrong with me?" she whispered, leaning her forehead against the cool tile of the shower wall.
Images flashed through her mind - fragments of memories that didn't quite make sense. A remote control. Her brother's face, twisted in panic. A strange sensation of being pulled from her own body.
Anna shook her head, trying to dispel the confusing thoughts. She finished her shower quickly and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel, avoiding her reflection in the foggy mirror.
As Anna stepped out of the bathroom, she nearly collided with her mother in the hallway.
"Oh! Good morning, sweetie," her mom said, a strange mix of relief and concern in her eyes, "How are you feeling today?"
Anna blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of her mother's gaze, "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little tired from last night."
Her mother's eyes widened slightly, "Last night? Oh, right. Your night out with the girls. Did you... have a good time?"
"Yeah, it was fun," Anna replied, fidgeting with the edge of her towel. Why did this conversation feel so awkward?
"That's good," her mom said, reaching out to tuck a damp strand of hair behind Anna's ear, "Why don't you get dressed and come down for breakfast? Your father and I want to talk to you about something."
Anna nodded, an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach, "Okay, Mom. I'll be down in a few minutes."
She retreated to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. As she dressed, pulling on a comfortable pair of jeans and a soft sweater, Anna tried to shake off the strange sense of disconnect she felt. Everything in her room was familiar - the posters on the walls, the stuffed animals on her bed, the collection of nail polishes on her dresser. And yet, she felt like she was seeing it all through new eyes.
Anna made her way downstairs, following the scent of coffee and bacon. Her parents were already seated at the kitchen table, speaking in hushed tones that immediately ceased when she entered the room.
"Good morning, sweetheart," her father said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "How did you sleep?"
"Fine," Anna replied, “What’s up?”
“We’ve fixed the remote!”
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