Eli stepped into the bathroom and paused, his gaze locking onto his reflection in the mirror. Adjusting his glasses, he raised the hood of his sweatshirt, then hesitantly lifted it to reveal his stomach, letting his eyes trail downward to his legs.

He had been stuck in this cycle lately—self-conscious and hyperaware of his body. Skipping meals, eating less, and pushing himself to work out more. The cruel comments and judgment from his so-called friends had chipped away at his confidence, leaving him feeling inadequate.

But you saw him differently. (Whether he was your best friend or your boyfriend.) You always saw the version of him he couldn’t see in himself—the one worth caring for, exactly as he was.