Chapter 1 A chance encounter

Sarah always felt like an outsider, invisible to most people she encountered. She often felt like there was a wall separating her from the rest of the world. It wasn't until she found her safe space in the quiet corner of the library, where no one ever seemed to go, that she felt like she could breathe. When she sat there with her books, she felt a sense of calmness that she could never find anywhere else.

One afternoon, while Sarah was distracted while reading her book, someone accidentally bumped into her table. Her heart raced as she tried to compose herself. She looked up and saw a young man holding out his hand to help her up. "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there," he said. Sarah felt her heart flutter as she realized that this was the first time in what felt like forever someone had offered her kindness.

From there, they started talking, which was strange for Sarah. She had never been the type to open up to others, but this conversation felt different. She told him about her love for literature and how she enjoyed spending time alone. The young man, whose name was Alex, told her that he was studying psychology and that he enjoyed helping others. They exchanged numbers before parting ways, and Sarah felt a smile creep over her face as she made her way home.