I walk with friends, sit beside them in class, laugh at the same jokes... but when it matters, I am never their first choice. My best friend has other friends who always come first. I am noticed only when I am needed, never when I am wanted. I smile, I stay quiet, and I pretend it doesn't hurt. But every ignored message, every forgotten plan, and every time I'm left behind reminds me of the painful truth - I am always the second choice. This is my story of unspoken pain, quiet resilience, and learning that sometimes the hardest lesson isn't fitting in... it's choosing myself. --------Drisana