I recall a highschool teacher or someone at work praising how I always answer “excellent” in high spirits when I was asked “how are you”. Now, I robotically answer “I’m okay, thanks. you?”. But in truth? No. I am NOT okay. Not since a girl I was willing to spend the rest of my life with deluded, manipulated and humiliated me before breaking my heart. Since her, I’ve been rejected and friendzoned again. I don’t think I’ll ever be happy or lively again. I just exist, going about my day because I need to… I’m getting academic burnout, and I’m tired of my fake friends and sick of hearing or seeing relationship/talk. I’m only 22 years old and already have experienced things and pains my classmates can only dream/dread of. I feel like an alien, stuck in a world I don’t belong in. Will I ever get to experience a normal life…?