Rei lived happily as a ballerina puppet, content with the Puppeteer—until she saw other dolls dancing freely. The Puppeteer disapproved, pulling her back with strings. That’s when Rei noticed—strings bound the Puppeteer too.

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When Rei resisted, more strings restrained her. They tightened painfully until she severed them with her hairpiece. Furious, the Puppeteer became a monster and chased her. When she finally caught Rei, she saw her own reflection in Rei’s place. Shocked, she let go—shattering Rei.

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Days later, the Puppeteer painstakingly reassembled Rei, but she wasn’t the same. Some cracks remained, some parts replaced—but the strings were gone. When she reached out, Rei flinched. The Puppeteer hesitated, hurt, but stayed silent, unable to mend what was lost.

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Message: This story represents rising above expectations. As an Asian individual, I’ve seen many peers constrained by their parents' ambitions, becoming mere props in their parents’ performances. Many never get the chance to pursue their own passions, either because they couldn't escape or were never given the opportunity. But reality is more complex than fairytales. Even the puppeteers were once controlled, shaped by their own pasts. My hope is that this story encourages puppeteers to break the cycle before they cause harm to others.