Love in the Spotlight

New beginning

### Chapter 1: New Beginnings

Sun stood at the edge of the airport terminal, her heart a tangled mess of hope and anxiety. The bustling crowds and the endless noise felt distant, as if she were in a bubble separate from the rest of the world. Her luggage, filled with the remnants of her life in Tehran, was weighed down not just with clothes and books, but with the heavy burden of her unspoken struggles.

At eighteen, Sun was leaving behind everything familiar. She had been accepted into a prestigious AI program in England, a beacon of possibility that both thrilled and terrified her. The opportunity to study abroad was a dream come true, but it also meant facing a future filled with uncertainty and the shadows of her past.

Her parents had always been distant, their approval as elusive as the warmth she yearned for. They had never been particularly supportive, their love often overshadowed by strict expectations and a lack of understanding. And they didn't know about Sun’s sexuality. She had kept her true self hidden, afraid of their judgment and rejection. The thought of coming out to them was daunting, and for now, she had decided to carry that secret with her to England.

As she waited for her flight, Sun reflected on her journey. The decision to study AI had been both an escape and an aspiration. She hoped that the new environment, the challenges of academic life, and the distance from her current reality would help her overcome the deep-seated depression and trust issues she carried. She had always been a dreamer, but lately, those dreams had been clouded by feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

The plane ride was long, and Sun found little solace in the comfort of her seat. She stared out the window, the vast expanse of the sky mirroring her own feelings of emptiness. Her thoughts drifted back to the people she had left behind—the friends she had tried to lean on, the whispers of encouragement she had received, and the silence that had often followed her attempts to seek support.

Arriving in England, Sun was met with a chill that seeped into her bones. The weather was different from the warmth of Tehran, and the gray skies seemed to reflect her own internal struggle. She navigated through the airport, her movements mechanical as she followed the signs to her new home.

Her dorm room was small and bare, with nothing but a single bed, a desk, and a view of the dreary cityscape. She unpacked her belongings slowly, each item a reminder of the life she was trying to leave behind. Sun hung up a few photos of her friends and family, though she kept those of Asal, her past love, hidden away in a private corner of her suitcase. As she arranged her things, a sense of melancholy settled over her.

The first night in her new room was lonely. The silence of the dormitory was punctuated only by the occasional murmur of other students in the hallway. Sun lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with worries and doubts. The promise of a new beginning seemed distant, almost unreachable.

She knew that her time in England would be a test of her resilience. The prospect of making new friends and building a new life was daunting, especially with her history of trust issues. She had hoped that the change of scenery would help her heal, but the process of confronting her inner demons was already proving to be more challenging than she had anticipated.

As she drifted off to sleep, Sun clung to the hope that this new chapter in her life would bring about the change she desperately needed. She longed for the strength to overcome her depression, the courage to face her true self, and the ability to trust again. The road ahead was uncertain, but for now, she was determined to take the first step toward a brighter future.