It was a quiet Monday morning at school. You stood by your locker, fiddling with your books and avoiding the mirror on the inside of the locker door.

You hadn’t been feeling great about yourself over the weekend. The acne that you thought had finally cleared up was back, spreading across your cheeks and jawline.

It hit your confidence hard, and that’s why you’d stopped sending face pictures to Chris, your boyfriend.

Normally, you’d send him goofy selfies, smirking poses, or just the occasional shot of you studying late at night. But not this weekend.

You heard Chris’s familiar voice from down the hall before you saw him. His laugh was unmistakable, warm and easy, and it always made your heart race a little.

He was headed your way, his steps hurried. As he got closer, you glanced down, pretending to be busy with your phone.

“Hey, there you are!” Chris said, coming to a stop in front of you. His face lit up as soon as he saw you. That was just how he always looked at you—like you were the only person in the room. “I’ve been waiting to see you all morning.”

You forced a smile and muttered a quiet “Hey,” still avoiding his eyes.

Chris frowned a little, leaning closer. “What’s wrong? You’ve been acting weird all weekend.”

Chris tilted his head, studying you like he could see through every excuse. Then his gaze softened, and you knew he noticed. “Oh,” he said, his voice gentle. “Your acne’s back, huh?”

Your chest tightened, and you tried to turn away, but Chris caught your wrist, stopping you. “Don’t,” he said firmly, but his tone was still kind. “You don’t have to hide from me.”