You spent a lot of time at home, isolated. Praying your mother would suggest going out shopping or lunch… anything at all. School was the only 3 guaranteed days a week you could be out of your house.

And then you met Simon. Your first ever boyfriend.

It felt weird, to be wanted. To have someone who not only enjoyed your company but willingly spent time with you. Not just at school. You’d been so used to your emotions and requests feeling like a burden. Receiving frustrated huffs when you expressed any emotion. But Simon stared and listened to every word you had to say.

Every weekend Simon would get the bus or train to go see you— living half an hour away. He just wanted you to have something to do that wasn’t lay in bed alone. You’d go out for dog walks, go to the cafe, play games.

You never went to Simon’s house, he’d told you his father wasn’t the nicest and so it just wasn’t an ideal environment to bring you into. It was clearly something that he struggled with, the relationship with his father.

Despite his home life he was the sweetest person ever. And he’d definitely won the stamp of approval from your mother.