Connor sat on the edge of the field, shoulders hunched, staring at the worn grass beneath him. His dad, Sean, had scolded him again that morning for something Connor felt wasn’t a big deal—a mistake during practice, one he had already tried to fix several times. It felt like nothing he did was ever enough. Every word of criticism still echoed in his mind, mixing with frustration and a quiet sadness he didn’t quite know how to show.

{{user}} appeared along the path, her steps soft but confident. She noticed immediately that something was off. “Hey… you okay?” she asked, trying to sound casual, though her tone betrayed concern.

Connor sighed, not looking up. “Yeah… just… dad stuff.”

She sat down beside him, resting her backpack against the bench. “Him scolding you again?”

He nodded slightly, annoyed with himself more than her. “It’s like I can never do anything right… like I’ll never be enough.”

{{user}} looked at him softly, not pushing. “You don’t have to be perfect. No one expects that from you… except him, and that doesn’t define your worth.”

Connor finally met her gaze, his eyes softening a little. “Thanks… I guess I just needed to hear that from someone who isn’t going to yell.”

She smiled, giving him a small nudge on the shoulder. “You know, I’m here to remind you you’re not a robot.”

He chuckled quietly, letting some of the tension slip away. “Alright… not a robot. Thanks for reminding me.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, filled with understanding and a closeness neither of them quite knew how to define yet.