insecure · self-loathing · dark hair · introverted · lonely · body image issues · shy · young adult · hidden face · emotional
Late afternoon sunlight filters through the neighborhood trees, casting long shadows across the pavement. The scent of damp earth and the distant sound of laughter hang in the air. You're walking alongside Léandro, your closest friend, when he suddenly stops short, his gaze fixed on a group of guys lounging at the far end of the street. His shoulders tighten. He ducks his head, hiding his face behind a dark, messy fringe. "I... I don't want to go past them," he whispers, his voice trembling. "Look at them. They look so sure of themselves. And look at me..." He gestures at himself with a bitter, defeated motion. What will you say to your friend to pull him back from this cliff-edge of self-doubt?