♡
Afraid to go out
Afraid to talk to people
It's difficult to make friends
I rather be home, Alone
Scared to be in a big crowd of people
Panicking about going to a social event
Nervous about meeting someone new
Scared to ask someone something
Staying quite instead of asking for something you need
Feeling like everyone is watching you
Regretting going out
♡
The bell echoed through the crowded hallways of Lincoln High School, signaling the end of another mundane day. Students poured out of classrooms like a rushing river, each one eager to escape the confines of academia and embrace the freedom of the afternoon. Among them was Daisy Rose, a shy and introverted girl who often felt lost in the sea of faces that swirled around her.
Daisy clutched her worn textbooks to her chest, her dark eyes darting around the bustling hall, searching for a familiar face amidst the chaos. She longed for someone to anchor her in this sea of strangers, but the weight of her anxiety held her back. The laughter of friends echoed in her ears, a reminder of the connection she craved but struggled to find.
As she navigated the hallways, her gaze involuntarily fell upon a figure that stood out from the crowd. There, amidst the flurry of students, stood Edward Leo, an alluring enigma to Daisy. His brooding eyes seemed to hold a universe of untold stories, and his tousled black hair added an air of mystery to his already captivating presence. Edward's introverted nature mirrored Daisy's, but there was an undeniable allure about him that drew her in.
Unbeknownst to Edward, Daisy often found herself in the same classes as him, captivated by his intelligence and creativity. She admired him from afar, her poetic soul weaving wistful tales of what could be between them. But, the fear of rejection and the ever-present voice of anxiety silenced her desires, leaving her to admire him silently.
As the last bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Daisy reluctantly pulled herself away from her thoughts and joined the stream of students heading towards the exit. She glanced back one last time, hoping to catch another glimpse of Edward before disappearing into the crowd, but he had already vanished from her sight.
With a sigh, Daisy made her way to her usual seat on the bus, feeling both relieved and disappointed that another day had passed without the courage to approach the enigmatic Edward Leo. Little did she know that fate had a way of bringing strangers together, and their paths were destined to intertwine in ways she could never have imagined. Her musings are not different from her poetic self as, she thoughts;
♡
Just like a light ray in a cellar
Cherry blossoms in the spring
Warm sunshine after a hailstorm
The taste of cream in hot chocolate
He was also my life's beacon of hope
We weren't yet close
But we also weren't total strangers
We used to be classmates
♡
Daisy's heart pounded in her chest as she stood face-to-face with the real Edward Leo. It was as if her thoughts had materialized into reality, and there he was, standing before her, staring right into her eyes. Her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions and questions, leaving her feeling like a deer caught in headlights.
Being approached by Edward was the last thing she had expected. In a class where she often felt invisible, the thought of someone as captivating as him acknowledging her existence sent waves of panic through her. Anxiety gripped her tightly, threatening to unravel the carefully constructed barriers she had built to protect herself.
In her mind, Daisy tried to calm herself down. "Daisy, calm yourself down. Perhaps he just wants something, or maybe there's something on your face? You can handle this," she thought, attempting to regain control of her nerves.
"Um... Yeah?... Edward..." she finally managed to reply, but her inner thoughts continued to whirl around like a storm. "Will he bully me? Make fun of me? Or will I become a stuttering mess like I did when I spoke?" she worried, feeling the weight of her social anxiety.
Edward's voice broke through her chain of thoughts, "Daisy, how are you doing? It's now time for the science lab after class... You must not. Do you want to go there?" The simplicity of his question brought her some relief, but her heart still fluttered with excitement and nervousness.
As Daisy gathered her thoughts and began to reply, she noticed that Edward's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with her own anxiety. He seemed completely unfazed, leaving her feeling like a scarlet tomato in comparison. Struggling to maintain eye contact due to her anxiousness, Daisy couldn't help but notice that Edward, too, seemed a bit uncomfortable.
She tried her best to express her gratitude for the information, fumbling with her words, and when she finally gathered her belongings, she turned back to see that Edward had already left the classroom.
Feeling disappointed in herself and consumed by thoughts of rejection, Daisy couldn't help but lower her head in disappointment. She wanted so badly to make a good impression on him, but her anxiety seemed to get in the way.
Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and she continued to think about him long after he had left the classroom. The memory of his presence lingered, and she found herself drawn to him more than ever. "I want to befriend him, to tell him that I care about him," she thought, but her poetical thoughts remained locked within her heart, unsaid and unexpressed. She was now remembering a poem ''The Special One'' by Clairel Estevez that reminds her of him.
♡
I want to be,
Special for someone.
So that I never feel alone,
Two arms holding me tight,
And forever keep me close
I want to find the missing colors,
For my life is black and white.
Someone crawling in my thoughts
When I try to sleep at night
I want to find the wandering feet
That with mine will walk the world.
Someone warm against my skin
When the winter nights are cold
And forever keep me close
Two arms holding me tight,
So that I never feel alone
I want to be,
Your special one.
♡
As she exited the classroom, a deep voice halted her in her tracks. "You need to hydrate more if you want to reduce your anxiety." It was Edward once again, standing there with that same calm and monotone voice.
Staring at him in awe, Daisy couldn't help but smile nervously. She wanted to stay in this moment forever, basking in his presence, but she gestured towards the direction of the science lab, indicating that she was going there.
♡
He said different things in different ways
And it caught her imagination
He was everything she'd ever dreamed
So simply unordinary
♡
The overwhelming feeling of being noticed by Edward filled her with both excitement and apprehension. As the day continued, she couldn't help but feel that something had shifted between them. The encounter left her yearning for more moments like this, where she could be close to Edward Leo, the boy she admired secretly but deeply.