Cuori in evoluzione

In my reflection

Chapter 1: New Roads

Liam had only been in Hillsboro for a week. It wasn't exactly a huge life change, but it sure felt different. He was now in a small town that looked like something straight out of a novel, with its red brick houses, the lazy river winding through, and the quiet town square that was almost always empty. Every corner of the town gave off this calm vibe, but there was something about it that also felt a little... too quiet. It wasn't just the town that felt out of place—Liam felt like he didn't belong there either.

The school was nothing new; it was just like all the others he'd been to over the years. But for some reason, this time felt harder. His shyness was like an invisible barrier around him, keeping him safe but also trapping him in his own little world. Every morning, as he walked to the entrance, all he wanted was to blend in and be invisible. He didn't want anyone to really see him. Because if they did, they'd see the one thing he desperately wanted to keep hidden: his secret. The secret that made him feel different and vulnerable. The secret he could never imagine sharing with anyone.

The school was full of people, but it didn't feel like a place where you could just be yourself. Not the way Liam wanted to. His sexual orientation, something he'd spent his whole life hiding, felt like a huge weight. He couldn't speak freely, couldn't just be him. There was always that nagging fear of being judged, labeled, or worse—put in a box that he'd never be able to escape from.

The first day had been a mix of hope and dread. Hope that maybe, just maybe, something could change. Maybe he'd find a friend or someone who'd make him feel like he wasn't so alone. But there was also that fear that nothing would ever be different. Because, let's face it, it had never been easy for him.

But then something changed that day.

In the middle of another day that felt like the usual routine, Liam's eyes landed on a guy sitting at the back of the class. He noticed him immediately—this guy, Theo, had this smile that lit up the room. He was talking to everyone like it was the easiest thing in the world, totally confident, not caring at all about how people saw him. Theo wasn't just some random guy—there was something about him that stuck with Liam. Not because he was special, but because he seemed... different. And yet, not in the way Liam was different. He didn't hide who he was. He wasn't afraid.

Theo was everything Liam wasn't: confident, open, totally himself. He moved through the world in a way that Liam didn't get. He was so at ease with who he was, it was like he didn't even think about what other people thought. Liam watched him from the corner of the room as Theo chatted with everyone, moving from one group to another, talking without hesitation. It was like Theo didn't even have to try. He was just... himself.

Liam, on the other hand, couldn't even imagine being that free. Every time he tried to talk to someone, it felt like he had to put on a mask. He had to pretend to be someone else to feel safe. But Theo didn't need any of that. He was real. He was authentic. It was something Liam had never seen before, and it made him think.

And even though he didn't know why, Liam couldn't help but feel drawn to him. Not in a way that was physical, but something deeper, like there was this unspoken connection between them. It wasn't clear yet, but it was there, floating in the air.

When the bell rang, Theo stood up and made a joke to the guy sitting next to him. It was so casual, like it was no big deal. Liam hurried out, trying to avoid contact with anyone. But as he was heading out the door, Theo's eyes met his.

It was just a moment, but that smile Theo gave him? It stuck with him. It wasn't a smug smile or a challenge—it was like Theo was saying, "It's really not that hard to just be yourself." Liam quickly looked away, but that smile stayed with him. It was like an echo in his mind, one he couldn't shake.

That night, when Liam got home, he felt totally lost. His mind was racing, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make sense of it. For the first time, the guy he saw at school—Theo—had really gotten to him. It wasn't that Liam needed someone to tell him how to live his life, but Theo had done something no one else had: for a second, he'd shown Liam that there was nothing wrong with being himself.

But, of course, that also brought up a ton of fear.

Liam knew that fear all too well—the fear of being vulnerable, of showing who you really are and being judged for it. Hillsboro wasn't exactly the kind of place where people embraced differences. It felt like everyone was stuck with the same views, the same ideas, and the same old prejudices. It was like his mind was in a constant tug-of-war—on one side, he wanted to be free, but on the other, he was terrified of what might happen if he let that freedom show.

Theo seemed to be everything Liam wasn't. Open, confident, free. He was everything Liam wanted to be, but had no idea how to get there. Liam didn't know how to take the next step. He didn't know how to stop hiding, how to stop being afraid.

As Liam lay in bed that night, he couldn't stop thinking about Theo. How had he done it? How did he move through the world so confidently, so... fearlessly? The question that kept running through his head was the same one: How does he do it?

And maybe, just maybe, that question was the key to everything. Maybe, if Liam could find the courage to answer it, his life would finally change. Maybe, if he stopped hiding, everything would feel different.

The next morning, as Liam walked into school, Theo's eyes found him again. But this time, it wasn't just curiosity. It was like Theo understood. Like he knew exactly what Liam was going through. Liam tried to look away, but Theo's smile hit him hard. It was a challenge, but also an invitation. A reminder that maybe, just maybe, there was a place where Liam could be seen for who he really was.

It was only a matter of time

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Hi everyone! 🌟

I'm Blue, and I'm super happy you've decided to start this journey with Hearts in Evolution! 💖

This book is a little like a small corner of the heart, a place where emotions, fears, hopes, and dreams intertwine. Every week, I'll publish a new chapter, so don't forget to come back and keep reading.

Thank you for being here and for being part of these stories. I hope that together we can make Hearts in Evolution something special for all of you!❤️

With love,
Blue

PS: This story came to me while listening to a song on the radio. Each chapter is inspired by a different song, and the one for this chapter is "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World.

This song perfectly captures the feeling of being lost, stuck "in the middle" of a phase in life. Liam is going through a period of uncertainty, trying to adjust to his new life and school, much like the characters in this song who are searching for a place to feel safe and accepted.

Note: I am not a native English speaker, so there might be some mistakes in my translation.