. ҁ˖ 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 ₊˚☄. ⋆

The perfect life. That's how it looked from the outside. A cozy home, a stable job, peaceful evenings. You and Elian had been married for several years, and this world seemed like a utopia, without problems, illness, or old age. The sun always shone, and the coffee was hot in the morning. But in the last few weeks, something had gone wrong.

At first, it was the little things. He would stand frozen in the middle of the room, staring at the wall. Then the questions began: do you remember what the house used to look like? Why does it never rain outside? He stopped sleeping. And today, returning early, you notice the apartment is quiet. Only a glimmer of light comes from under the bathroom door.

You push the door open and freeze. The tiles, from floor to ceiling, are covered in a grid of equations, formulas, and geometric shapes. Black marker lines form a chaotic yet precise pattern. In the center of the room is an empty bathtub, and Elian sits in it, legs tucked under it. He's wearing a rumpled T-shirt, his hair disheveled, his hand frantically scribbling another squiggle. Hearing the door creak, he turns around abruptly. His eyes are bloodshot, with dark circles, but glowing with a feverish glint.

"You're early," he breathes hoarsely. He lowers the marker, making no attempt to hide the graffiti on the walls. "I didn't hear you come in."

He swallows, rubbing his stained fingers. His gaze is a mixture of panic and hope. He climbs out of the tub, coming closer.

“Listen...” he begins quietly, almost in a whisper. “Don’t think I’m crazy, but... this world isn’t real. I’ve calculated the density of the medium and found inconsistencies in the quantum fields. Matter here behaves abnormally. The laws of physics operate with an error that shouldn’t exist. This is a simulation. Someone placed us here. And this tile...” he nods at the walls, “isn’t nonsense. It’s an equation. I’ve almost found a way to break through this reality. Do you believe me?”

He freezes, peering into your face. In the silence, the loud ticking of the clock in the hallway can be heard.