As the chaos of the crash settled, I lay there, trembling, my body still vibrating with shock and pain. My vision swam as I blinked my eyes open, and through the haze, I saw T.J. kneeling beside me. Her face was a mask of concern, her voice urgent.

"Gracie, can you hear me? Are you okay?" she asked, reaching out a trembling hand. "Gracie? Yo G?"

Suddenly, it was as if a switch had flipped. I sprang upright, gasping for air, my breaths coming in rapid, jagged bursts. My heart pounded furiously, my chest feeling like it might burst. The world around me spun, moving too fast for my panicked mind to keep up. I tried to focus on T.J., but the overwhelming panic made it nearly impossible.

"Gracie. Gracie. Gracie."

T.J.'s voice was a lifeline amidst the whirlpool of my fear. "Hey... Hey... Girl, it's okay, it's okay."

I looked up at her, my breathing still erratic. My gaze shifted downward to my feet. I wiggled my toes, the simple movement offering a tiny but significant reassurance that they were still there, still functional. The feeling brought a sliver of calm, grounding me in the present moment.

The reality of the situation began to settle over me. My breathing started to normalize as I focused on the sensation in my feet. I closed my eyes, letting the small but comforting sign of my feet moving help anchor me to the here and now.

"Gracie. It's okay. It's okay."

I pulled my leg closer, feeling a strange comfort in the movement.

"You're okay, Gracie. Everything's fine," T.J. said softly.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice trembling with residual fear.

"Me? Oh, I'm fine. Ate a chocolate bar and my health is back up to 100. Nothing too shabby. You probably need a chocolate bar." T.J. placed a chocolate bar in front of me. "Maybe your health is just low."

I took the chocolate bar but didn't eat it. The shock from the crash was still too fresh, replaying in my mind like a never-ending loop.

T.J. noticed the distant look in my eyes and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Come on. Let me help you up."

She extended her hand to me. I took it, and with a deep breath, managed to stand.

"Save your tears, G. We've got to get back at those guys who just hit us," T.J. said, her face set with determination.

I stood there, unmoving, silent. The shock held me captive, my mind replaying the accident endlessly.

T.J. squeezed my hand gently. "C'mon, Gracie. Let's continue with the game. I get that the crash hurt for a sec but it wasn't real."

"Yes, it was real. It... it was real for me," I said, my voice trembling.

"What do you mean, Gracie?" T.J. asked, looking confused.

"I can't walk," I said, tears welling up.

T.J. looked down at me, bewildered. "What do you..."

"I CAN'T WALK, T.J.!" I shouted. "I'm a paraplegic. I can't run, skip, hop, jump, or walk! WALK!"

"Gracie, calm..."

I began to pace in frantic circles, my movements reflecting my inner turmoil, as T.J. tried to calm me.

"You don't get it, T.J. YOU JUST DON'T!" I cried, my frustration and fear spilling out uncontrollably.

T.J. stepped closer, her expression softening with empathy. "Gracie, I'm here for you. We'll figure this out together. Just breathe, okay? We'll get through this."

I sank onto a park bench, a mix of anger and despair overwhelming me. I tried hard to hold back the tears, removing my shoes and looking down at my toes as I wiggled them. T.J. sat next to me, not knowing what to say or do. She sensed this was something deeply personal, a truth she hadn't been privy to.

T.J. decided to sit beside me, placing a reassuring hand on my back. I looked at her, my eyes filled with regret.

"I didn't mean to yell. I'm sorry," I said softly.

"It's okay," T.J. replied, giving me a gentle smile.

"I don't know where to begin," I admitted, my voice trembling.

"You don't have to tell me. I'll still..."

"No," I interrupted. "I think I should. I want to be honest with you."

T.J. nodded, her expression encouraging and patient, ready to listen.

"I was sixteen when I got into a car crash. I had an L1 fracture, which resulted in me being in a wheelchair. I was with my friend Sabrina, and out of nowhere... this truck just hit us. Ran a red light. I suffered a spinal injury, a giant cut on the left side of my abdomen, and cuts to my arms. Sabrina suffered a broken foot and arm."

T.J. didn't respond immediately, shock etched on her face as she absorbed the gravity of my revelation.

"My life changed forever that night. I blamed Sabrina for something she didn't do. I shut myself away from people because it feels like everyone's watching me. I lost more than my ability to walk. I lost hope."

I stood up and started to walk around the bench, the weight of my confession heavy on my shoulders.

"When I step into Odyssey, and I come to Las Mariposas, this world... this wonderful world, I never want to leave. I can run faster here. I can jump miles into the air. I can skip to my car. I can be the person I was two years ago. For me, this... this is my escape."

T.J. nodded, understanding the depth of my pain.

"Listen, T.J.... If I ruined your night, I understand. Also, if you don't want to play with me anymore, I understand that too. This has been fun."

Before I could get off the bench, T.J. grabbed my arm. I looked back at her, seeing her struggle to find the right words.

"Shame on you for thinking that I'd ever want to stop being friends with you," she said firmly. "Don't you dare ever say that again."

I felt a pang of shame, but her acceptance surprised and touched me deeply.

"Also... I can't explain what you went through, and I'm so, so sorry that happened to you. I... I don't know what to say to that. But I can tell you this, Gracie Anderson... I became your best friend because I like you. I like your personality. You're caring, kind, and loving. I think I've already told you, but when I see you here in this game, it lights up my day."

A small smile tugged at my lips. I loved it when T.J. made me feel better.

"So yes, Gracie, I wish to still be your friend. I wish to come on here every night and see your avatar." T.J. took my hands in hers. "We can conquer anything. We can do anything."

I hugged T.J. tightly, feeling a comforting warmth envelop me. Her embrace made me feel so secure.

"Why do you have to make me cry?"

"Save these digital tears for real tears, another day."

I laughed softly at her comment. I looked at her, wanting to say a thousand things.

"Can I give you some advice?" T.J. asked.

"Sure," I replied.

"Don't worry about the eyes looking at you. It'll only break you down even more. Just ignore the eyes. Trust me."

"Okay."

"And remember, I told you to give it a chance with Sabrina before. I still think you should. I know there's a spark left between you two. All it takes is one moment together."

"You're right. You're probably right."

We sat side by side on the park bench, a comfortable silence settling between us. Then, T.J. turned to me with a mischievous grin.

"And... since we're not keeping secrets anymore...I'm not really a professional golfer."

"Oh, you're not?"

"I'm not."

"Please don't tell me you're secretly a 40-year-old man pretending to be an 18-year-old girl."

"No, no. I'm 18. I'm a woman."

"Thank goodness. I would have logged off this game so quickly."

T.J. laughed, her mood lightening. "Okay, but you promise not to freak out?"

"Freak out?"

"When I tell you who I am."

I gave her a confused look. T.J. stood up, looking down at me with an uncertain expression.

"I'm actually a singer."

"Really? That's so cool. Are you like famous?"

"I'm trying to be. I have a small number of fans."

My mind flicked like a light bulb. "So when you said you were going to Coachella..."

"I'm actually performing. At 8:35 p.m. on the main stage."

"Oh wow! That's amazing! I'll support you! They have a live stream I can watch on my computer! Wow!"

"Yeah, you can watch me."

"Wow! That's so cool! I'm proud of you. That's awesome! Are you in a band? Like, what's your band name? Or are you a solo act?"

"Technically, it's just me, my brother, and his friend. They have their own solo acts, but they like to help me out. My brother is a drummer, guitar player and his friend, Ricky, is my keyboard wizard."

"Wow, that's so cool! Kinda like a family affair."

"Yeah, definitely."

"And your band name is?"

"It's actually just my name."

"Which is?"

T.J. paused, her hesitation palpable. I could see she was unsure how I'd react to her real name.

"This won't change our relationship?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Like, you won't treat me differently."

"I just told you I have paralysis? I think we're way past keeping secrets."

"You're right. You're right."

T.J. took a deep breath and looked at me with a mix of nervousness and determination. "My name is Tessa Jane O'Connor."

My eyes widened in astonishment as the name registered. Tessa Jane O'Connor, the pop star, had been my friend all along. The realization left me speechless, my mind struggling to process the surprise and excitement.

"Yeah. So there's that," Tessa Jane said, her voice tinged with nervousness.

I could only nod, still in shock from the revelation.

"I kinda figured this reaction would come out of you. The disbelief, the surprise. I figured. I assume you're a fan too. Yeah... yeah..." Tessa Jane trailed off, her tone uncertain.

Finally, I found my voice. "So you're telling me... your brother is Francis O'Connor and you never told me!"

Tessa Jane's face shifted from confusion to relief, like she wasn't sure how I'd react to her truth but was glad I hadn't run off screaming. "Yeah, Francis is my brother."

I blinked, still processing. "You mean Francis O'Connor? As in, 'literally broke the internet with his Calvin Klein photoshoot' Francis O'Connor?"

Tessa Jane let out a laugh, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since this conversation started. "Yeah, that's him. My brother, the heartthrob."

I stared at her. "I mean, with all due respect, but... your brother is hot. Like, ruin-my-entire-life hot. I almost broke my retainer just looking at that photoshoot."

Tessa Jane burst into laughter, and it felt like a shared victory. Despite the absurdity of everything, we could still laugh.

"I guess he's ok to look at," she said, her grin widening. "But try not to drool over my brother, okay?"

"Yeah, no promises."

For a second, I forgot about everything—the accident, the secret lives we were both living. It was just me and Tessa, being stupidly normal.

Then it hit me. "Wait a minute. 'T.J.' stands for Tessa Jane, doesn't it? How did I not put that together? I've literally done karaoke with you! You could've just told me!"

Tessa Jane smiled softly. "I didn't want you to treat me differently. People do that, you know? The second they realize I'm that Tessa Jane, they forget who I actually am. But... you didn't. And that means a lot."

She was looking at me like I mattered. Like I was more than just the girl who couldn't walk. And for once, I believed her.

"So, what's next?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Well, you weren't lying when you said you'd be the hottest girl at prom." I raised an eyebrow, teasing her.

She blushed, all cute and embarrassed. "I said that as a joke."

"But it's not a joke," I said, half-smiling.

Suddenly, her expression changed, like an idea had just dropped into her brain, fully formed and ridiculous. "Ask me to prom."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what?"

"Ask me to prom," she repeated, dead serious.

I laughed awkwardly. "You're joking."

"I'm not joking. Ask me to prom," she insisted.

"Tessa Jane, don't be ridiculous," I said, shaking my head. "You're literally performing at Coachella. Thousands of screaming fans. That's your life."

She crossed her arms, looking entirely unfazed. "I perform Friday night. Saturday's wide open. Your prom is in Phoenix, right? I can drive there in four hours. One-hour flight if I'm feeling fancy. I'll be there."

"Why would you waste your time on me?"

"I'll waste my time on you any day," she said, smiling like she wasn't about to break my heart with how casual she was about it.

Before I could say anything, Tessa Jane ran to her car, pressed a button, and—*boom*—fireworks started shooting into the sky.

"Invite me to prom!" she shouted, grinning at me like this was the most normal thing in the world.

I stood there, speechless. "Tessa..."

"Gracie, c'mon. I know you want to," she said, her eyes sparkling.

"I do," I admitted, heart racing. "I do want you to come."

"So ask me," she urged, excitement bubbling over in her voice.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "Fireworks, huh?" I said, trying to ease my nerves.

"I thought it'd be cool. Wish I could spell out 'prom?' in the sky, though," she joked.

I grinned and pulled out my phone, summoning a digital bouquet of roses in the game. "Do you like roses?"

She smiled. "They'll work."

With that, I handed her the roses, feeling both nervous and strangely calm at the same time. "Tessa Jane O'Connor, will you be my date to prom?"

She grinned, eyes lighting up. "Of course."

We hugged, and as we did, the fireworks kept exploding in the sky, a colorful symphony of light above us. Everything felt a little surreal, like it was too perfect to be real. But in that moment, it was.

"So... when and where?" she asked, her smile still warm.

"7 p.m., Sheraton Hotel, downtown Phoenix."

"I'll be there," she said, like it was the simplest thing in the world.

And just like that, the night wasn't about secrets anymore. It was about fireworks and promises. About showing up for each other, no matter what.