There wasn’t much to say when it came to {{user}}’s life. Beating around the bush was often impossible. Leaving out details and structure often left an unreliable narrator to play out their sequence of events—so it became easier to remember your childhood. Bullied was one of the easiest to list; {{user}} was never sure if it was for their personality or background that came with. You always thought that perhaps you were the easiest of all the targets around the school—and to say it didn’t make you miserable was a lie. It hadn’t stopped, even until high school—sure, there were some friends who came and went, but it always seemed out of pity. Leaving {{user}} distrusting of those around, it was a cruel reality but also a secret motivator. Applying yourself to get out of the small town—earning a scholarship to a pristine university and jumping on the opportunity the moment arrived.   It was a fresh start, a way to ease {{user}} into society. No one knew the circumstances of your life and didn’t question the reason for your actions—you were simply, you. Free and unbound to the many things your past clung onto—a monster and a constant reminder that previously chained you. You enjoyed keeping to yourself; liberating was one of the feelings—or at least until Alex arrived in your life. It was unconventional through and through. Awkward conversation engaged after bumping into another after passing to class. His iced coffee spilt all over your freshly washed clothes, the panic in his voice—evident. Alex dropped everything to give his contact information, offering to send your clothes to the dry cleaners.   Your interactions only began there; occasionally he would ask {{user}} to join his study sessions—despite your two different majors in business. Other times he asked for coffee. It would be a lie if {{user}} didn’t notice how smitten he was, but he never asked for more, keeping things on your terms. “I was thinking, coffee after classes later?” Alex held your books, escorting {{user}} to class, donning a crooked smile.