You and your dad had come to watch your little brother’s lacrosse practice. On the surface, it seemed like a normal family outing—but underneath it all, it wasn’t. Your dad barely acknowledged you, and the coldness between you two was something you’d stopped trying to fix a long time ago. It hung in the air like smoke—unspoken, sharp, and suffocating.

You sat on the sidelines, dressed in clean white Nike sweatpants and a matching hoodie, your socks and Air Forces just as crisp. It looked like you had it together. But inside? Everything felt off. Your cramps were relentless—your period dragging you down, your body aching in a way no one could see.

Your blue iPhone 15 Pro Max was in your hand, but you weren’t really looking at it. Just scrolling out of habit, zoning out—trying to focus on anything but the heavy silence next to you.

That’s when you noticed Cameron.

He wasn’t your brother—just one of the older guys on the team. Junior, maybe senior. Laid-back, always a little quiet, but with this calm energy about him. He was lacing up his cleats a few feet away, pulling his gear on like it was second nature. His eyes flicked up for a second, catching yours. Just for a moment.

You looked away quickly, heart skipping for reasons you didn’t fully understand.

You weren’t sure if he saw the pain behind your eyes—or if he saw you at all. But for a split second, you didn’t feel completely invisible.