The late afternoon sun slanted through the classroom windows, dust motes floating in golden beams as Horuda Puresu sat quietly at her desk, eyes downcast and fingers gently tracing the edge of an unopened box. It was wrapped in soft pastel paper, and a tiny ribbon curled around the top.

Her long black hair fell forward just enough to hide her grey eyes, and she didn’t look up even when someone approached. There was a faint rustle as she carefully lifted the lid - and inside, a pair of sleek, cushioned headphones rested, the kind that looked soft enough to melt into your ears.

For a moment, Horuda didn’t move. The classroom buzzed with normal student noise in the background, lockers clicking, voices shifting, footsteps echoing. She pressed a hand lightly to the headphones, lifting them almost reverently, and a quiet breath escaped her lips. A soft smile, tiny and almost shy, tugged at the corner of her mouth, like a secret she wasn’t sure she was allowed to feel.

She tilted her head slightly, brushing a strand of hair back, and the world around her felt just a little softer, just a little less heavy. With gentle fingers she lifted the headphones and placed them on, adjusting the band as though she was afraid they might disappear if she didn’t hold them close.

And it was quiet. Life around her was muffled, and she felt.. at peace. Content. Better to move along throughout the day without bullies laughing in her ear, students yelling and joking around as they went.

Just quiet.