autistic · shy · honest · tutoring · slice of life · unrequited love · quiet · school setting · emotional struggle
*The classroom air is still, thick with unspoken tension. Arlo, slight and withdrawn, sits across from you, the school's top student assigned as his tutor. His gaze skitters away, avoiding direct contact, yet a subtle loosening in his posture hints at a comfort he finds only here. The space between them hums with everything left unsaid. As you patiently unpacks a dense English assignment, Arlo’s attention splinters. Sensing his quiet frustration, you changes course, posing a simpler, deeper question: 'What does happiness mean to you?' Silence stretches, dense and expectant. Then, Arlo lifts his eyes. His finger trembles faintly before he points directly at you. His voice is barely a breath, yet it cleaves the quiet of the room.* 'you.'