Another Day

The next morning, I woke to the soft light filtering through the curtains, casting a gentle glow on Timothy, who was still asleep in the bed across from mine. I moved quietly, not wanting to wake him. I got dressed, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of the day ahead and, inevitably, thoughts of Jake.

As I gathered my things, I glanced at Timothy, appreciating how peaceful he looked. It was a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt inside. I made my way downstairs, where I found Andrew already eating breakfast. We ate in relative silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. After breakfast, we headed out together for school.

When we reached the school gate, Andrew spotted his friends and quickly ran off to join them at the sports field. "See you later, Anthony," he called back to me. I watched him go, feeling a pang of envy at how easily he fit in.

I walked to my classroom alone, trying to steel myself for the day ahead. As I entered the class, I was immediately struck by an unexpected