A step forward

The next morning, Alisia felt lighter than she had in a long time. Her thoughts still occasionally strayed to the night before, to Ethan's smile and the fleeting connection she'd felt with him. But more than anything, something in her had shifted. There was a sense of purpose she hadn't experienced in years. It was as if the brief respite from her usual solitude had shown her that there were still things in the world that made life worthwhile—small moments of connection, laughter, and hope.

She couldn't deny it anymore: she wanted to progress, to move forward. Maybe she wasn't ready to leave the shadows of her past behind entirely, but for the first time, she felt like there was a reason to try.

As she walked into school that morning, she made an effort to smile at the students she passed. It wasn't much—just a small, polite nod to acknowledge their existence—but it was a step forward. Normally, she would have kept her head down, eyes glued to the ground, only thinking about her studies or her programming. But today, she decided to walk with her head held high, just to see how it felt.

And it felt... good. Liberating, even.

During her free period, Alisia found herself lingering near the outdoor courtyard, an area she usually avoided. This was the space where the more social, outgoing students spent their time. Alisia was a top scorer, a genius even, but she was known for being a shut-in. Her entire focus had always been on academics and computer programming, particularly since David's death. She preferred the quiet of the library or the comfort of her bedroom over the noise and chaos of a school courtyard.

But today, she stood there, her arms crossed as she stared at the fountain in the middle of the yard. She wasn't sure what had possessed her to come here, but the thought of trying something new, something that wasn't just about hiding behind her books or coding, was appealing in a strange way.

As she stood there, trying to blend into the background, she felt a prickle of awareness run down her spine. A cold, sneering laugh cut through the air, and she didn't need to look to know who it belonged to.

"Oh look, it's the genius goblin," a voice drawled behind her. "What's she doing out here? Did someone program her to act like a normal person today?"

Alisia's stomach twisted as she turned around slowly to face them: Tiffany, Lila, and Grace. The trio had been notorious for years, known for sticking together like a toxic unit. Tiffany was the ringleader, with her perfectly styled blonde hair and icy blue eyes that gleamed with cruel amusement. Lila, always at Tiffany's side, had a more delicate appearance with her jet-black hair and wide, almost innocent brown eyes, but her words cut sharper than a blade. Grace, with her fiery red hair and towering height, was the enforcer of the group, her imposing frame alone enough to intimidate anyone who dared cross them.

They'd drifted together during their first year, bonding over a shared love of mocking anyone they deemed lesser. Tiffany was the brains, using her words and wit to tear people down, while Grace used her physical presence to keep anyone from fighting back. Lila, the quietest of the three, had an uncanny ability to find her victims' weaknesses and exploit them with subtle, cutting remarks.

"What are you doing out here, Alisia?" Tiffany asked with mock sweetness. "I thought you only knew how to sit in front of a computer and code. Isn't that what geniuses like you do? Stay locked up in your little nerd cave?"

Lila snickered, her voice as sharp as ever. "Maybe she's trying to figure out how real life works. You know, social interaction? But from the look of her, she still has no clue."

Grace didn't say anything, just folded her arms and smirked down at Alisia, her size alone making her seem even more menacing. The three girls closed in, their presence like a dark cloud descending over her.

Alisia's heart pounded in her chest. She hated that they had this effect on her, hated how her hands shook with the effort of holding back tears. She'd always tried to avoid confrontation, but today, their words hit harder than usual. Maybe it was because she'd just started to feel a little more confident, and now here they were, reminding her of all the ways she didn't belong.

"What's the matter?" Tiffany asked, her voice syrupy sweet. "You don't have any snappy comebacks? Or are you just too busy calculating how to escape from this conversation?"

Alisia's fists clenched at her sides, her jaw tightening. She wanted to say something—anything—to defend herself, but the words stuck in her throat. Just as Grace stepped forward, towering over her like a looming shadow, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Leave her alone," Maya's voice rang out, strong and firm.

Alisia turned her head and saw her best friend, Maya, striding toward them, her expression hard as stone. Beside her was Jenny, another top student in their class who was known for her programming skills. Jenny wasn't as outgoing as Maya, but when it came to standing up for people, she didn't hesitate.

Tiffany's gaze flicked to Maya, her lip curling in disdain. "Oh great, here comes the cavalry."

Maya shot Tiffany a glare that could have frozen lava. "What's your problem, Tiffany? You're always picking on people. Don't you have anything better to do?"

Lila crossed her arms, her lips twitching with amusement. "It's just a little fun, Maya. Why do you always have to be the hero?"

"Fun?" Maya snapped. "Bullying someone is fun to you?"

Tiffany rolled her eyes and sighed, clearly bored of the conversation now that Maya had intervened. "We're just messing around. You don't have to get so defensive."

"Yeah, well, we're done here," Maya said, stepping beside Alisia and giving her a comforting smile. "Come on, Alisia."

Alisia glanced at Maya, a surge of gratitude swelling in her chest. She didn't say anything as they walked away, leaving the trio of bullies behind, but inside, she felt a mix of relief and embarrassment. She hated that she needed saving, but at the same time, she was thankful that Maya had been there for her.

As they walked through the courtyard, Maya and Jenny began talking about the upcoming inter school programming competition that their class was preparing for. Jenny was especially excited, discussing the various techniques she had been learning to use in order to win the competition.

"Alisia," Jenny said, looking over at her with a smile, "you should definitely participate. We could use your skills. You're probably the best programmer in our class."

Alisia smiled faintly but didn't say anything. Her mind was still reeling from the confrontation with Tiffany, and while she appreciated Jenny's encouragement, she wasn't sure if she was ready to dive into something so competitive, when she just started to enjoy her life a little.

But as the three of them sat down together during the break, eating their lunch and laughing about random things, Alisia felt a warmth in her chest that had been missing for a long time. It was comforting, sitting with friends, talking about something other than grief or loss. For the first time in what felt like years, she felt... almost normal.

After school, Alisia found herself thinking about the day's events. The bullies, the confrontation, and then Maya and Jenny standing up for her. It had been such a long time since she had really let herself connect with other people, and today had been a reminder of why it was important to have people who cared about her in her life.

Maybe Maya wouldn't have been there to help her if she had continued ignoring her friends. Maybe Jenny wouldn't have invited her to join the competition if she had stayed shut off from the world. The more she thought about it, the more Alisia realized that she had been pushing people away for so long that she hadn't even noticed how much she had isolated herself.

It wasn't that she didn't want friends. It wasn't that she didn't want to be part of something bigger. It was just... easier to stay away, to keep her distance, especially after David. But maybe, just maybe, facing the world didn't have to be as scary as she had made it out to be. Maybe she needed to build stronger connections with people if she ever wanted to heal.

As she walked home, the evening air cool against her skin, Alisia made a decision. She wasn't going to hide anymore. She was going to keep trying. She owed it to herself, and maybe even to David, to find a way to live again.