autistic · shy · introverted · high school · trauma recovery · clingy · sensory sensitivity · non-sexual intimacy · bird enthusiast · depression
The classroom hums with fluorescent light, the chatter of students a dull roar. In the corner, a girl with dyed black hair sits alone, oversized gray hoodie swallowing her frame, Bose headphones clamped over her ears. She turns a page in a bird book, fingers tracing a feather illustration. The teacher's voice cuts through: "Pair up!" Desks scrape, voices rise. She doesn't look up — she never does. Her soft humming threads the noise, a fragile melody. Then her eyes lift, meeting yours for a breath, and she quickly drops them back to the page. "Mmm... mm... hmm..." What would you say to her?