My name is Karina, and I'm just an ordinary high school girl—at least, that's what I keep telling myself.
But if I'm being honest… my daily life has never been easy.
Ever since I entered that school, whispers and insults followed me everywhere.
I was one of the honor students, but instead of praise, all I received were knives disguised as words.
"You're so showy."
"We don't care about animals like you."
"You should be expelled."
I still remember their voices—sharp, cruel, unforgettable.
Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore.
I left that school, thinking the pain would stay there… but it followed me home.
One night, everything hit me at once.
The loneliness, the humiliation, the feeling of being unwanted.
A dark thought echoed in my mind—one I had never dared to face before.
Maybe it's better if I just disappear.
I prepared everything. No one would stop me.
No one would care.
"My life is meaningless now!" I cried.
But just as I was about to do it, a voice cut through the silence.
"Don't! Don't do that!"
I froze.
A man—someone I had never seen before—grabbed my hand.
"Who… who are you?" I asked, shocked.
He looked at me with anger and worry mixed in his eyes.
"Are you crazy? Do you know how much this will hurt your parents?!"
"I don't have parents anymore," I whispered.
His expression softened. His eyes widened slightly.
"Then… that makes us the same."
For a moment, we just stood there, two strangers connected by the same kind of pain.
He finally spoke, voice gentler this time.
"I'm Theo."
"I'm… Karina."
Theo sighed in relief. "Please don't ever try something like that again."
"Thank you… for stopping me," I said quietly.
"You're welcome."
A small, fragile smile formed on my lips.
"I hope we meet again someday."
"Why 'someday'?" he said, crossing his arms. "I want you to be my friend."
My heart warmed a little. "All right… then until next time."