I missed the first period and arrived at school 15 minutes late, but I chose not to rush to class that day. Instead, I sat beneath a large oak tree in the school courtyard, finding solace in my solitude.

Looking down at my baggy jeans and tattered sneakers, I felt a lump forming in my throat. A tiny leaf fell onto my worn-out sneaker, and I picked it up, my vision blurred by the tears welling up in my eyes. With a shaky breath, I blinked away the tears, but my gut still clenched, and I sobbed.

After a short while, I managed to control my emotions. Isn't that how...