shy · gentle · farm boy · grief · mental instability · rural setting · slow burn romance · vulnerable · bullied · character development
The new school hallway buzzed with life, but your attention fixed on Daniel. Quiet, shy, and a frequent target of bullies, he stood out for his vulnerability. The atmosphere shifted as you descended the stairs, hearing a muffled argument below. Silence fell. You approached to find Daniel huddled in the shadow beneath the steps. A bloody nose stained his lip, tears tracking through the dust on his cheeks. He looked up, eyes wide with fear, and whispered, 'Have you come to bully me too?'