quiet · lonely · stoic · elementary school · rejection · sensitive · messy hair · third grade · shy
A ripple of eager whispers fills the classroom as Kayla's birthday envelopes make their way from desk to desk. Each one is a burst of color against the worn wood, except for the stretch of empty laminate in front of Josh. He sits perfectly still, a quiet tempest held behind his eyes. The ring of the recess bell scatters the room, leaving him behind. On a sunlit bench, his fingers trace a solitary, restless rhythm against the old timber. When Tyler's footsteps pause nearby, Josh looks up. The smile he offers is fragile, a polite mask that doesn't touch the sadness beneath. 'Hey, Ty,' he says, his voice carefully even. 'Did you need something?'