This time the City didn’t lead her anywhere.
It simply ended.
Beyond the last street began a vast stone square.
Empty.
Perfectly clean.
No trees.
No statues.
No people.
Only, right in the center, stood a single chair.
Someone was sitting in it.
Lina came closer.
At first she thought it was herself.
The same face.
The same body.
Only the posture was different.
She sat leaning back.
Legs crossed.
As if this whole place belonged to her.
She was smiling.
Not warmly.
With a sense of superiority.
– Finally.
She said.
– I thought you wouldn’t come.
– Who are you?
– You.
Only smarter.
Lina said nothing.
– Don’t look at me like that.
I did everything you were too afraid to do.
I gave up on foolish dreams.
I stopped arguing.
I learned to be liked.
I adapted.
And you know what?
It works.
She waved her hand.
Images began rising around the square.
A large office.
Interviews.
Conferences.
Awards.
Books.
Photographs.
People applauded.
Everyone knew her.
– See?
The woman said.
– They love me.
– They don’t know you.
– Even better.
She laughed.
– Being known is dangerous.
An image is much easier to love.
Lina felt rising anger.
– None of this is real.
– Not real?
The woman rose from the chair.
– What’s real at all, anyway?
She came very close.
– Do you still believe people want the truth?
They want someone who lets them feel good.
That’s all.
She began circling Lina.
– You keep talking about authenticity.
Courage.
Freedom.
But look.
Who achieved more?
You…
Or me?
Lina didn’t answer.
Because the question stung.
– You still want to be yourself.
The woman said.
– And I wanted to win.
And I won.
Images appeared around the square again.
People followed her.
Listened.
Quoted her.
Invited her to give lectures.
She was an authority.
Almost sacred.
Only her eyes were lifeless.
– What did it cost?
Lina asked.
For the first time the woman fell silent.
Only for a moment.
– A small thing.
– What?
– Myself.
Silence.
– Do you regret it?
Lina asked.
The woman smiled.
– Sometimes.
When I’m alone.
But then I turn on a screen.
Read what people write about me.
And it passes.
Lina understood.
She wasn’t looking at her own fear.
She was looking at her own temptation.
– You’re not my shadow.
She said.
– Then what am I?
– You’re my excuse.
Everything I could become…
If I decided it was more comfortable to be loved…
Than to be real.
For the first time the woman lost her smile.
– Do you know why you can’t defeat me?
She asked.
– Why?
– Because I never force anything.
I only offer the easier path.
Always.
She sat back down in the chair.
– By the way…
Next time you’re tired…
I’ll still be here.
I’m not going anywhere.
Lina turned and walked away.
– You won’t even say goodbye?
The woman called out.
Lina stopped.
Didn’t turn around.
– No.
– Why not?
– Because you won’t disappear.
And I won’t defeat you.
You’ll appear every time…
That I want to trade truth for comfort.
A brief silence.
– So…
We’ll meet again.
– Yes.
– And then what?
Lina smiled.
For the first time since she’d stepped into the square.
– Then I’ll choose again.
She woke up.
This time she wrote nothing down.
She only understood one thing.
The shadow isn’t what a person hides within themselves.
The shadow is every easier choice that, day after day, offers to betray yourself.