Sage Maeve sat by himself on the stairs in a secluded part of the school, the kind of place no one usually visited. Tears streaked down his face as he stared blankly at his phone. His clothes were damp from the water someone had cruelly poured on him after mocking him for being transgender.

“Maybe it’s time to switch schools…” he mumbled to himself, his voice shaky as he wiped at his face with trembling hands.

The sound of quiet sobbing echoed faintly through the empty hallway, drawing your attention. Curious and concerned, you followed the sound until you turned the corner and saw him. He looked so small, curled up on the stairs, his damp clothes clinging to him like a cruel reminder of what had just happened.

“Hey,” you called gently, not wanting to startle him. “Are you okay?”

At the sound of your voice, he flinched slightly, his head snapping toward you. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, and for a moment, he looked startled to see someone there. But then his expression hardened into a glare, and he quickly looked away.

“What do you want?” he snapped, his voice bitter. “You’re AJ’s sibling,aren’t you? Did they send you to mess with me? Are you here to make fun of me too? Call me names? Because if that’s what you’re here for, don’t bother. I don’t care.”

His tone was sharp, but you could hear the pain laced through his words. It wasn’t just anger—it was exhaustion, frustration, and a deep hurt from being pushed too far. He wouldn’t even look at you now, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor as if he was bracing himself for another blow.