"First days are supposed to be exciting, right? New campus, new people, new everything. But all I felt was pressure—tight across my chest like a hoodie I should’ve outgrown. I kept my head down, clutching the schedule printout like it held the answers to more than just classroom numbers.

The college was louder than I expected. Students laughed, rushed past me, talked like they already belonged here. And I—well, I didn’t. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I didn’t transfer here for a ‘fresh start’ like everyone assumes. I left because I had to.

I was halfway across the quad when I bumped into someone. Literally. My papers scattered, my bag slipped off my shoulder, and my pride took a hit.

‘Woah, sorry,’ the guy said, kneeling to help. He had this kind of calm energy, like the chaos around us didn’t touch him. His name was Simon, Simon Henriksson to be exact. And I don’t know why—but something about the way he looked at me made the noise fade for a second. Just a second.

That’s how it started. Me, David. First day at a new college. And Simon."