Yael, 25

The untold secret:

In the hidden corners of Yael's mind, a peculiar secret thrived, blossoming into a web of shadows that enveloped her soul. This secret, one she guarded fiercely, was the twisted pleasure she derived from her own paranoia.

The origin of Yael's paranoia was a “guardian angel”, a spectral presence that hovered incessantly around her. It was her mother who had first mentioned this celestial being, planting the seeds of fear and anxiety that would flourish within Yael's heart. As a child, the very idea of an unseen presence stalking her every move terrified her, transforming her world into a living nightmare.

But as she grew older, the fear gradually transformed into an odd fascination, an unspoken thrill that coursed through her veins like a potent elixir. Yael's metamorphosis began when she dared to test the “guardian angel”. She confided in it, whispered secrets that would have certainly reached her mother's ears if the angel had any malicious intentions. Yet, her secrets remained unspoken, locked away in the angel's silent embrace. This realization that the mysterious presence could be trusted, that it was a force of protection rather than destruction, ignited an exhilarating sensation within her.

The knowledge that she was never truly alone, that she had someone witnessing the harsh realities of the world with her, eventually made her feel special. Over time, Yael started to revel in the company of her “guardian angel”, a once feared presence now a source of secret pleasure.

Careful not to reveal the full extent of her secret to her therapist, Dr. Mizrachi, she spoke only of her actual paranoia, the feeling of being watched and followed, never touching upon her newfound delight. She feared the truth would shatter the delicate balance holding her world together, that the doctor would dismiss her as a lost cause or a liar.

As Yael lay on the therapist's couch, a sly grin danced upon her lips, hidden beneath the mask of despair she wore. She was a master of deception, an enigma that no one could unravel. And as she left the office each week, the comforting presence of her stealthy follower wrapped around her like a warm embrace.

In the end, it was the untold secret that bound Yael to her otherworldly companion. The transition from fear to fascination was a journey only she could understand, a dance of shadows she alone could appreciate. And as night fell, casting the world into darkness, Yael took solace in the embrace of her “guardian angel”, their secret connection a bittersweet symphony that played on into the night.

About Yael:

Yael was a child who had known the joy of a carefree existence, her days filled with laughter and the innocence of youth. That was, until the fateful day when the shadow of her guardian angel began to cast its spectral veil upon her life.

Her near brush with death, a speeding car only inches away from crushing her and her beloved red tricycle, had shaken Yael to her very core. The fear and panic that gripped her were only amplified when her mother, in a misguided attempt to comfort her, spoke of a guardian angel watching over her. The notion of this unseen force, a constant presence she could neither see nor touch, sent her reeling into a world of fear and paranoia.

Yael's life became a claustrophobic maze of worry and suspicion, her once-happy nature now shrouded in a cloud of anxiety. She found herself scrutinizing her family and her parents' friends, searching for any sign that one of them could be her invisible protector. It was a question that plagued her thoughts, a riddle she could not solve.

In the midst of her turmoil, Yael confided in her childhood friend, Ilana. The two girls shared a bond that transcended the boundaries of friendship, a connection that allowed Yael to reveal her deepest fears. She told Ilana about the “guardian angel” her mother had mentioned, the terrifying figure that haunted her every waking moment.

Yael's confession did little to ease her fears. Instead, it only served to heighten her sense of isolation, as Ilana could offer no answers to the questions that tormented her. The girls' relationship with each other was forever altered, as Yael now viewed Ilana as a fellow witness in her cage of fear.

As the years passed, Yael's relationship with her mother became strained. She could not help but blame her for the haunting specter that dogged her steps, convinced that the “angel” would report back to her mother about her every action. Desperate to keep her secrets from this unseen force, Yael adopted a trick she had seen in a mafia movie her father had watched: she would cover her mouth when speaking to Ilana, ensuring the “guardian angel” could neither hear her words nor read her lips.

Over time, however, the crushing weight of her paranoia began to shift. Yael tested her guardian angel, whispering secrets and lies to the unseen figure, waiting to see if her mother would learn the truth. To her surprise, her secrets remained locked away, untouched by the prying eyes of the world.

Slowly, Yael began to trust her guardian angel. The fear that had once shackled her heart began to dissipate, replaced by an odd sense of fascination and delight. She started to view her angel as a source of protection, a constant companion that she could rely on.

The turning point came when Yael entrusted her guardian angel with the story of her secret crush, Ivar. Despite her mother's distaste for the boy, Yael found herself drawn to him and his enigmatic soul, even if he only had eyes for their teacher and her red painted fingernails. When her mother remained oblivious to her feelings for Ivar, Yael knew that her angel had passed the test, proving itself as a loyal protector.

As her trust in the angel grew, Yael's paranoia transformed into a sense of excitement, a thrill that coursed through her veins like an electric current. She continued to see her therapist, Dr. Mizrachi, always careful to maintain the illusion of fear and anxiety, never revealing the pleasure that now filled her heart.

In the end, Yael's life became a delicate balancing act, a dance between light and shadow. She had traversed the line between terror and fascination, emerging on the other side with a newfound appreciation for the “guardian angel” that continued to follow her. The once oppressive specter now lingered on the edge of her perception, ever present but no longer terrifying.

Yael had created her own unique condition, one where she embraced her paranoia without succumbing to the fear it typically induced. It wasn't merely acceptance of the “guardian angel” that fueled her newfound outlook; it was the tantalizing allure of being watched, followed, and somehow protected that captivated her. The eeriness of her situation remained, a constant reminder that her life was far from ordinary. But it was precisely this eerie fascination that breathed excitement into her existence, transforming her paranoia into a darkly thrilling sensation that she wore like a cloak of mystery.

Yael, 25