I’ve been hurt so often that I started to believe people only left when things got tough. I pushed away anyone who got too close, thinking they’d run if they saw the real me. Like Veronica, I found comfort in isolation. But then I met someone who didn’t give up on me, someone who wasn’t scared of my scars. Slowly, I learned that trusting someone doesn’t mean you’re weak—you’re brave enough to let someone help carry the weight of your world. It reminded me of Jeremy’s unwavering presence in Veronica’s life, no matter how often she tried to push him away.

After my parents’ divorce, I felt like my world had shattered. I started to shut everyone out, pretending to be fine when I was anything but. Like Veronica, I sometimes felt like the only thing I could control was my pain. It wasn’t until I started opening up about what I’d gone through that I realized I wasn’t alone. Some people care, even when it feels like no one understands. Like Jeremy, my friends showed me that healing doesn’t happen alone—it’s through the people who stick by you, no matter what.

I remember being in high school and sitting in a classroom full of people but still feeling completely invisible. Like Jeremy, I would daydream about someone noticing me, but it felt like no one cared. I watched the girl who sat across from me, hoping she’d turn around or say something, but every time she looked at me, it felt like she was looking straight through me. I tried to convince myself I was okay, but deep down, I felt lost and invisible. Now, I realize I wasn’t the only one feeling that way. Just like Veronica, we all wear masks to hide our pain.

There were days when I couldn’t even look in the mirror without feeling disgusted. I’d think about how I didn’t fit in or was never good enough for anyone. I’d push people away; afraid they’d see the real me—the one I hated. I would isolate myself and pretend everything was fine, even though inside, I was falling apart. Like Veronica, I kept everything to myself, afraid that if I let anyone in, they’d leave once they saw who I truly was. But one person stuck around, and their unwavering support helped me realize that maybe I wasn’t as broken as I thought.

I used to think I’d never find a place where I belonged. I felt like I was always on the outside, looking in. I kept my head down, focusing on school and distractions, but a part of me longed for a real connection. Then, one day, I sat down next to someone I barely knew, and they just started talking to me—no judgment, no expectations. Like Jeremy, they saw me for who I was, not just the quiet guy in the corner. That conversation changed everything for me. Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can remind you that you matter.