The Weight of the Mask

Mirror Crown

As the jet soared through the sky, Xavier leaned back in his plush seat, trying to clear his mind. The hum of the engines should have been soothing, but all he could focus on was the chaos swirling inside him. His hands, which had been nervously twisting the seatbelt, fell to his lap. He couldn't escape the overwhelming sense of dread that lingered in the pit of his stomach.

What now? he thought. What the hell am I supposed to do?

The flight to New York was smooth, but Xavier couldn't feel the luxury. He couldn't feel anything but the weight of the mask he had been forced to wear. Every part of this new world felt like a foreign movie, and he was just the actor pretending to understand the plot. He kept expecting someone to pull him aside and say, "Just kidding, you can stop now." But no one did. No one even looked at him like he wasn't Christian.

The staff had been polite, attentive, and never once questioned him. They treated him like royalty, as if he were born into this world of wealth and power. But Xavier didn't belong here. He wasn't Christian. He wasn't even close.

His mind kept running in circles, fighting between the urge to just admit everything—tell someone, anyone—that he wasn't the real Christian Classic, that he was just a poor guy who looked like the heir—and the fear of what would happen if he did.

Could he even tell anyone?

The life he had left behind was so far removed from this one that it almost felt like it had never existed. The job he had lined up, the friends he'd made, all seemed so insignificant now. But how could he go back to it? How could he step away from this life, from this identity, when he was so deeply entrenched in it now? He could feel the eyes of the world on him, or at least, that's what it felt like. Every time he moved, every time he breathed, he could almost hear the whispers.

No one had suspected anything when he stepped into Christian's shoes. No one had even questioned him. And the truth was, Xavier didn't know if he was relieved or terrified by that fact.

What happened when they realized the truth? Would they care? Would they be angry? Would Christian's family, the people who had known him his whole life, notice that something was wrong?

Would they hurt him?

He gripped the armrest harder, his nails digging into the leather. Was this even possible? Could he live this lie forever? The longer he thought about it, the more it seemed like an impossible task. And yet, he was already too deep. His old life, the one where he had to struggle for every penny, was slipping away like sand through his fingers.

Xavier stared at the window, watching the clouds pass by, each one a reminder of the distance between him and everything familiar. He could almost hear his old self, the person who would have never gotten into this situation. The person who would have never willingly stepped into someone else's life.

But that guy was gone now, wasn't he?

The plane's gentle vibrations did nothing to calm him. He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the uncertainty pressing down on him. The only thing he knew for certain was that he couldn't just go back to his old life. That person was gone. He wasn't Xavier the part-time worker anymore. He wasn't just some guy from the streets. He was Christian now, or at least, he had to be.

And that terrified him.

The thought of stepping off the plane in New York, of entering the world of Christian Classic for real, felt like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from. It wasn't just the wealth or the power—it was the responsibility. The responsibility to maintain an image, to live up to the legacy that Christian had built. How could anyone live under such constant pressure?

Xavier turned his head and looked at the staff member sitting across from him, quietly reading something on their tablet. They didn't look at him, didn't seem to notice how lost he was. And maybe that was for the best. If they saw the doubt in his eyes, if they saw the confusion and fear, they might question him. They might see through the act.

The only thing that made sense to Xavier now was that he had to keep going. He had no other choice. No one could know he wasn't Christian. If they found out, it would be over. His chance at a new life, his chance to escape everything, would be gone. And so, he continued to play the part, the role that had been thrust upon him, even if it meant losing himself in the process.

The plane began to descend, and the view of the New York skyline came into view. The massive city, full of people and opportunities, was waiting for him. Or at least, waiting for Christian.

Xavier had no idea what to expect. But one thing was for sure—he wasn't ready for it.