You moved to town on a quiet, overcast morning, the kind where the clouds hung low, threatening rain but never quite delivering. The car ride felt endless, your suitcase rattling slightly in the trunk as your parents chatted up front about unpacking. Through the window, the town of Truham—or at least what you’d seen of it so far—looked small but cozy. Rows of brick houses, a few scattered shops, and a school you’d only glimpsed in pictures. It was nothing like the place you’d left behind, and the unfamiliarity made your stomach twist.

The house was nice enough. A little old, with creaky wooden floors and a bedroom window that overlooked a quiet street. You sat on the bed, fingers gripping the edge of the mattress, trying to push away the nerves creeping in. Tomorrow, you’d start at a new school—new classes, new people, new everything. It wasn’t your first time being “the new kid,” but that never made it easier. The idea of walking into a classroom full of strangers, of finding somewhere to sit at lunch, of figuring out where you fit—it was overwhelming.

That evening, as the sky faded into soft purples and blues, you decided to take a walk. Just a short one, to clear your head. The air was crisp, the streets quiet except for the occasional passing car. And then, just as you turned a corner, you saw someone—about your age, standing outside a shop, laughing at something on their phone. They glanced up, meeting your gaze for just a second. Something about them made your heart stutter. You didn’t know it yet, but this was the moment everything started to change.