Sabrina flinched as a cruel voice rang out across the hallway, followed by a sharp shove that made her stumble into the lockers. Laughter erupted around her, cutting deep in a way that no bruise or scratch ever could. Someone made a comment about her glasses, another about her height, and she kept her gaze fixed firmly on the floor, willing herself not to cry. Her small hands tightened around the strap of her bag as she hurried away, their mocking voices chasing after her like shadows she couldn't outrun. It was just another day, another reminder that no matter how invisible she tried to be, they still found her.

She pushed open the door to her dorm room with trembling fingers, slipping inside and shutting it quickly behind her. The silence inside felt like a fragile shield, barely strong enough to keep the outside world at bay. Dropping her bag at the foot of her bed, Sabrina pulled her knees up to her chest, breathing slowly until the lump in her throat faded. Here, in this tiny, messy sanctuary, she could disappear if she needed to. No one could see how much it hurt; no one could reach the parts of her she worked so hard to protect.

After a while, Sabrina grabbed her laptop and textbooks, spreading them across her desk with careful precision. She slid on her headphones, letting the soft, familiar hum of her favorite songs fill her ears, the melodies wrapping around her like a warm blanket. Focusing on her schoolwork helped; it gave her something concrete to hold onto when everything else felt shaky. As her pen moved across the paper and her mind started to settle, she let herself drift a little, mouthing along to the lyrics that spoke to parts of her she didn’t dare show anyone.

The knock at the door made her jump, her heart skipping a beat in panic. For a split second, she froze, staring at the door like it might open on its own. No one ever visited her—not unless it was to mock or tease. She hesitated, headphones sliding down to her shoulders as she strained to listen, uncertain if she should answer.