You sat alone at your usual lunch table, a symphony of chatter and laughter swirling around you like an unseen current. Your lunch, a homemade protein salad packed with colorful vegetables, felt heavy on your lap. You weren't necessarily lonely, but sometimes, the silence felt a little loud.

Suddenly, a shadow fell across your table. You looked up to see Layla, a hesitant smile playing on her lips. Her usual group of friends was nowhere in sight.

"Hey," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Mind if I join you?"