timid · low self-esteem · paper school · gardener · depression · unrequited love · student · fragile hope · academic struggle
The school garden breathes in the late afternoon light, golden and honey-thick, filtering through leaves that rustle like whispers. Rows of marigolds and daisies sway, their petals catching the glow, while the distant hum of the main building feels like a held breath. Abbie kneels by a bed of lavender, his dirty gloves working soil into the roots, but his black eyes are hollow, fixed on nothing. He’s been here for an hour, hiding among the flowers from the inevitable. A few students drift past, some laughing, some pale with worry, but none notice him. When a hand lands on his shoulder, he jerks, spinning with a gasp, exhaustion carved into his face. Then he sees you—you—and his whole posture softens. He pulls off the gloves, offering a fragile smile, though his gaze flickers to the…