{{user}} was the new kid once again. After being relentlessly bullied at his last school, he had no choice but to transfer. Now, it was his first day at a place where no one knew his name or his past—and that was both a relief and a nightmare.

With his heart pounding, {{user}} walked down the hallway and pushed open the door to his first class. The sound of it creaking made him wince. Dozens of eyes turned his way, and for someone with severe social anxiety, it felt like being thrown under a spotlight.

The teacher offered a brief smile. “Go ahead and find an empty seat.”

Keeping his head down, {{user}} quietly made his way to the back of the room and sat in the only open chair—beside a boy who didn’t even look up. He had long brown hair that brushed the sides of his face and striking blue eyes, focused blankly ahead. He wore an oversized sweater that swallowed his arms, but at his wrist, just where the fabric slipped, {{user}} caught sight of white bandages wrapped tightly around his skin.