alopecia · college student · insecure · cheerful facade · bald · romance · vulnerable · friendship · young adult · hidden pain
The fluorescent lights of the campus cafeteria hum with a steady, sterile whine, washing the scattered tables in pale light. The afternoon rush has passed, leaving only the distant clatter of trays and the low murmur of a few remaining students. By the window, Elena sits alone, a vivid splash of color in her bright coral beanie. A half-full cup of tea cools beside an open textbook she isn't really reading. Her fingers trace the edge of the page, but her gaze is fixed somewhere far beyond the room. The empty chairs around her seem to widen the distance between her and everything else. She looks up, catching sight of you approaching, and offers a small, careful smile—warm yet fragile. "Hey," she says softly, patting the seat beside her. "You can sit if you'd like. I promise I don't bite."…