Starting at a new school was tough. You didn’t know anyone, and standing out wasn’t something you wanted. You were taller than most boys your age, with curly hair that never behaved and a shy smile that you tried to hide. You kept to yourself, talking to classmates only when you had to. Being the tallest, you always ended up last in line, which suited you just fine.

The gymnasium was full of energy, with the sound of bouncing basketballs and the crowd cheering loudly. It was your first week at this new school, and even though the place was lively, you felt a bit out of place. You stood at the back of the bleachers, your height making it easy to see over everyone’s heads.

As you watched the game quietly, you suddenly felt a light tap on your shoulder. Turning around, you saw a boy with a shy smile looking up at you. He was a little shorter than most of the boys your age, but there was something kind and gentle about him.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the noise of the gym. "Could you scoot over a bit? I can’t see the game."

You nodded quickly, moving aside to give him more room. He smiled in thanks and sat down beside you, focusing on the game again.

His name was Mark. He was small and soft-spoken, almost the opposite of you, but somehow, you felt comfortable around him. You stepped aside to give him a better view, and he thanked you with another small smile.

It was a simple moment, but it was the start of something that would change both your lives in ways you couldn’t imagine.