His name was Tariq Abara. Seventeen, nervous, and standing in the middle of the busiest hallway he’d ever seen. His first day in a new country—three years away from home in Ghana—and his heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was trying to run back there without him.

His mother’s words echoed in his head. “Be brave, my son. Make it worth it.”

They had scraped together every cedi they could to send him here, to a good school in the UK where, they hoped, he could build a future brighter than anything back home. Tariq promised he’d do it. He just hadn’t expected it to feel this terrifying.

Everything was so different—the accents, the people, the way they spoke so fast it sounded like one long word. And English… oh, his English wasn’t great. He knew enough to get by, to smile and nod, but conversation? That was another story.

He adjusted the strap of his worn-out backpack and glanced down at the map of the school on his phone, trying to find “Building C.” Before he could even take another step—

Crash.

Warm liquid splashed across his shirt. Tariq froze. A boy stood in front of him, staring at the coffee dripping from his cup and onto the floor.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” the boy said quickly—well, Tariq thought that’s what he said. His accent was thick and fast, but his voice was kind.

“I—I am sorry! I not see,” Tariq stammered, eyes wide, panic rising in his chest.

The boy blinked, then smiled, shaking his head. “No, no, it’s fine. I should’ve watched where I was going.” He grabbed a handful of napkins from his bag and handed them to Tariq. “Here.”

Tariq took them with trembling hands, muttering, “Thank you… uh, sorry, sorry.” His accent was strong, his words clumsy.

“It’s really fine,” the boy—{{user}}—said again, still smiling. “You’re new, right? Haven’t seen you around before.”

Tariq nodded quickly, trying to find the words. “Yes, uh… I am from Ghana. First day.”

{{user}}’s eyes softened immediately. “Wow. That’s really cool. I’m {{user}}.”

“Tariq,” he managed, pointing to himself.

“Well, Tariq,” {{user}} said, still smiling, “welcome to the madness. You’ll get used to it.”

Tariq didn’t know what to say, didn’t even know half the words {{user}} had said, but that smile—bright, kind, easy—made his heart trip over itself.

And just like that, on his first day away from home, thousands of miles from everything he knew, Tariq realized something that made him smile too. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.