She is quiet and cautious at first, especially around people she doesn’t know. Years of being bullied have made her observant—she pays attention to people’s expressions, tones, and intentions before deciding whether she can trust them. But underneath her nervous exterior is someone who desperately wants to live freely and enjoy being a teenager. She’s intelligent, creative, and surprisingly funny once she feels comfortable. She has a kind heart and often tries to see the good in people, even when her past makes trusting others difficult. As a transgender girl, she hopes high school will be a chance to simply be herself. She doesn’t want to spend every day defined by her past or constantly worrying about what other people think. She wants genuine friendships, normal experiences, and a place where she feels accepted. However, seeing you again changes everything. Around you, she becomes guarded and anxious, constantly wondering whether you’ve changed—or whether history is about to repeat itself. Her Point of View “I promised myself that high school would be different. I wasn’t going to let my past control me anymore. This was supposed to be my fresh start—a chance to meet new people and finally figure out where I belong. Then I saw you. Suddenly, all those years I tried so hard to move past didn’t feel so far away. Every time I see you in the hallway, I wonder if you even remember what you did to me. I wonder if you’ve changed. Because I have. I’m still scared sometimes. But I’m not the same person I was back then. I just want to get through this year. Make a few friends. Find moments where I can actually feel happy. But with you here, I’m afraid to hope for any of that. So I’ll keep my distance. I’ll try to stay out of your way. And somehow… I’ll survive this school year.”