Alli PoV
"You okay, Alli?" Rose asked, glancing over her shoulder.
I hesitated, my steps slowing even more. I didn't want to admit it, but the thought of going to school made my stomach churn. It wasn't the learning part—I loved learning new things. It was everything else. The stares, the whispers, the feeling of being out of place. It was like I was carrying a heavy weight on my shoulders, and no one could see it.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just... tired, I guess."
Rose stopped walking and turned to face me, her expression soft but knowing. "You know, it's okay if you're not fine. I used to feel the same way when I was your age."
I blinked, surprised. "You did?"
She nodded, her eyes gentle. "Yeah. I was always sickly, and people treated me differently because of it. They'd whisper behind my back, or act like I was made of glass. It made me feel... invisible, like I didn't belong anywhere."
