Chapter 38

"When we were in high school, we were lucky enough to be placed in the same class. One time, the class organized a hiking trip, and someone suggested we climb a mountain. About seven or eight of us decided to go.

We ended up walking quite far without realizing it, and eventually, we got lost. As the sun began to set, some of the girls started crying in fear. But you—it was remarkable—you didn’t cry. You calmly suggested that we follow the North Star, and your composure in that moment put us boys to shame.

By the next morning, we found our way back to school. All the parents had shown up, crying with relief as they embraced their kids. But you stood alone in the corner, with no one to comfort you. It was then I realized that your strength, your calmness, your ability to face challenges without flinching—was the very thing that made you so heart-wrenchingly fragile.

You had no parents, just your aunt and uncle who raised you. You understood that you were different from the other ki