32 | Lucid

*** Liliana's POV

Geesus, finally done.

I hadn’t realized how long I’d been hunched over my desk, my body frozen in that same position for what felt like hours. My shoulders ached, and my neck was stiff. But at least I had finished. The presentation was clean, concise, and to the point. I’d stripped away all the extra fluff and left a solid narrative arc with a hook that would grab the audience’s attention from the start.

Delivering content in a conversational tone has always come naturally to me, but this time, my nerves had made it challenging to set a realistic pace. Now, I’m in a good place. I can spend the weekend practicing my timing, rewatching my old TED minis, and making sure I’m leaving enough room for audience engagement.

As I finally peel myself away from the desk, I’m hit with a wave of stiffness that almost pins me in place. My legs protest as I straighten them out, and I realize just how “old” I feel.

With a groan, I manage to push myself upright, my joints popping a