Tarek sat alone, in the far corner of the classroom, distant from the laughter that filled the room. His appearance made him seem much younger than his age. His body was slender yet tall, with broad shoulders that stood out among the other students, as if signaling that he didn't belong here. His hair was black and long, cut in a random way, as though he didn't care about it. His deep, sad eyes reflected the weight of all the burdens he carried, as if the entire world was resting on his shoulders.
He wore the old school uniform, but his appearance suggested he didn't pay attention to the little details like the others. He sat silently, staring at the ground, his mind drowning in many thoughts. Around him, the whole class was laughing, chatting, and sharing moments, but Tarek was closed off, sinking in the sea of loneliness.
Everyone around him was talking, laughing, living life as if it were easy. But Tarek didn't feel any of that. He watched them like they were different beings. He knew he had a place here, but that place was just a shadow passing through them, unnoticed and uncared for.
He thought about the day that had passed. It seemed like an ordinary day on the surface, but inside, it was full of small events that left a big impact. He remembered how someone had looked at him strangely when he received his book in class, as if they saw him as an outsider among the crowd. That look hadn't been cruel, but it was enough to erase any sense of belonging. Why was he always outside the circle of attention? Why couldn't he approach them?
As he drowned in his thoughts, he felt something strange. There was an inner feeling creeping into his heart. He realized this feeling wasn't new; it recurred whenever he felt lonely. He knew he needed a change, but didn't know how. He tried to focus on his lessons or anything else, but his mind always returned to the same point: Why was he here? And what would happen next?
As he sank deeper into a sea of questions, he remembered a dream he had the previous night. He dreamed of a distant place, dark but calm, where he felt peace, yet there was a sense of loss. A feeling that he had left something important behind. That dream repeated every night, as if there was something he needed to discover.
As time passed, Tarek felt something else inside him, as though this feeling of emptiness was just the beginning of something new. His heart began to beat faster, as if this moment might be the one to change the course of his life. He didn't know whether this change would be good or not, but deep inside, he felt that something, somewhere, was about to change his life.
Then, suddenly, he felt something different. There was someone approaching him quietly. He knew this person well, maybe more than just a passing figure. It was a small glimmer of hope sneaking through the shadows of his loneliness, but he didn't know whether to follow it or remain stuck in his place.
Would he find solace in this person? Could this be the moment that changes the course of his life?