Salih's first memory was of standing at the edge of her family's overgrown garden, staring up at a cloud-filled sky that seemed to shift and swirl as if whispering secrets. She was only six but already knew what it felt like to be out of place. Her mother calls her a dreamer, but the other kids at school called her "weird." Perhaps they are right because she felt weird.

Now at twelve, Salih found herself once again on the edge,not of her garden, but her life. Her family's dynamics had made her withdraw further, and school had become a battleground of whispers and rumors. But being the first day of School she was gonna be optimistic. 

Salih was doing her best to be cheerful, smiling at whoever she locked eyes with. In the chaos of the crowded hallway, a boy with messy black hair and dark, soulful eyes purposely bumped into her. He wasn't like the others. There was something deliberate about the way he held himself, as if he was resisting the world around him.

"Sorry," he muttered, his voice low but steady.

 Salih blinked, unused to apologies. "It's okay."

He hesitated, then smiled faintly. "I'm Rayan And you are?"

"Salih," she replied, unsure why her voice came out softer than usual. Was she attracted to him? But one thing she was sure about was that something unspoken connected them.

By lunchtime, they were sitting under a beech tree, sharing an unspoken agreement to avoid the noisy cafeteria. They didn't talk much, but the silence was companionable. Salih noticed the way Rayan stared at the clouds, his expression distant, as if searching for something just out of reach.

The Beech tree quickly became their sanctuary. Every lunch break, they would retreat to its shade, finding comfort in the quiet. The other students began to notice, and whispers spread through the hallways. "Are they like dating?" said Girl1 meanly loud enough for them to hear not exactly expecting an answer.

"Yeah they're so weird." said Girls2

"Those he like know they're now both cursed?."says Girl1 again as they both giggled

Salih tried to ignore it, but Rayan confronted the gossip with a quiet determination that surprised her. "Let them talk," he said, his voice carrying an edge of defiance. "Not that it matters."

Despite his reassurance, Salih couldn't help but feel the weight of the stares. She was used to being the center of attention even in a negative light but this was. Rayan seemed to sense her discomfort and made her a promise beneath the beech tree.

"I'll stay," he said, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "No matter what happens, I won't leave."

Salih's heart ached at the sincerity in his voice. Does he understand what that word means? growing up she had made a really good friend in kindergarten because of their shared love for bows. She remembers they were really inseparable, closer than her siblings. her mum really was happy. her baby finally made friends. But things got different fast after the family trip. she had with the family of her best friend. She somehow was the survivor of the attack by armed gunman at the hotel they stayed at, her best friend wasn't. This incident raised eyebrows partly because of the bitter parents who blamed her without proof in a little town. It didn't help that a similar incident happened again in 5th grade. 

Taking a deep breath she looked at the boy staring into her eyes. She didn't know why, but she believed him.