I stood frozen in the crowded hallway, Sophia's voice echoing in my mind like a cruel mantra. "You think you can make it as an artist? Your drawings are childish and your style is basic. Stop being pathetic and find something you're good at. Oh I heard the Ugly Club is looking for new members and you look like you'd fit in."
She burst into a manic laughter as her face looked large, her features distorted in a mocking grin. I felt like I was shrinking, my sketchbook slipping from my grasp. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, with students' faces blurring together like wax figures.
Sophia's laughter grew louder, more menacing, as my vision began to distort. The lockers seemed to close in around me, trapping me in my own nightmare.
My eyes fluttered open, and I was met with the familiar sight of my bedroom. The morning sunlight streaming through the window was a stark contrast to the dark, distorted world of my dream. I let out a sigh of relief as I realized it was just a nightmare.
My heart still racing, I sat up in bed and rubbed my temples. The dream had felt so real, and Sophia's words still lingered in my mind. I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the lingering anxiety.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and planted my feet firmly on the ground. My sketchbook lay open on the nightstand, filled with the artwork I'd been working on. My eyes landed on a recent piece, and I smiled, feeling a surge of confidence.
"It was just a dream," I told myself, trying to sound convincing.
I stood up, stretched, and began my morning routine, trying to push the remnants of the nightmare aside but the memory of Sophia's mocking grin lingered, a reminder that some fears and doubts still lingered beneath the surface.