Alex's world, once filled with the promise of discovery, began to shrink. His obsession with music, once a source of solace, became an isolating force. The other students saw him as different, an outsider with his head in the clouds.
It started with whispers, snide remarks about his "weird" interests. Soon, the whispers turned to taunts, and the taunts to physical harassment. Books were ripped from his hands, instruments smashed, and his carefully composed melodies mocked.
Alex retreated into himself, his spirit as bruised as his body. The once vibrant melody within him, a symphony of hope and curiosity, began to fade, replaced by a discordant note of fear and isolation.
The school counselor, a kind-faced woman named Mrs. Ramirez, noticed the change in Alex. Concerned, she reached out, offering a listening ear. Alex, hesitant at first, slowly began to open up about his struggles.
