I'm not fine, when was I ever even close to fine?

Yet, recently, I've been feeling my mask slip out of my grasp, edging away from me, leaving me feeling lonely and isolated. It's an odd feeling, I no longer have to worry about maintaining my mask since my death is coming soon. The first trial is going to start tomorrow.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do, keep the mask or leave it as it is. Yet I know that I don't want to let my 'team' know about my true self. They never cared about me before, so why should I tell them about myself now?

My feet halt as we arrive at the training ground. I pick up my shattered mask once more and I feel it take its place, soothing me with its presence. Even if I'm going to die soon, I don't want the beatings to worsen, I don't want to have to deal with attention and I don't want people to discover what my life is really like, behind the mask.

Another 'training' routine. Another session of making a fool out of myself. Another time that I weaken my abilities. Another suspicion averted.It seems as if nothing has changed.

Kakashi is still avoiding me, Sasuke is still being an arrogant duck-butt and Sakura is still hitting and tormenting me.

I feel satisfied with my work as I walk home. I look at my house, trashed, run-down, graffitied and broken. I walk through the door, seeing dressers opened, contents rummaged and objects flung across the room. I flip onto my cramped, creaky bed. I watch the ceiling, burnt, stained and scratched. I feel sleep overtake me.

This is exactly the same as always.

Author's Note: *Awkward Silence*