What breaks me softly.

She was never loud enough to be noticed.
Until someone finally stayed.

Year 10 is supposed to be when everything starts to matter - grades, futures, expectations. For Ella, it's when the quiet weight she's been carrying finally begins to crack.

As friendships fracture and pressure closes in, Ella learns what it feels like to be unseen - and what it costs to ask for help when you're terrified of being too much. In the middle of panic attacks, classrooms that feel too small, and the fear of disappointing everyone, an unexpected bond forms - fragile, platonic, and life-altering.

This is a short slow-burn story about anxiety, loss, trust, and the unbearable relief of being understood.

A story for anyone who has ever felt invisible -
and for anyone who needed someone to stay.

⚠️ Content warnings: anxiety, panic attacks, emotional distress
💔 Slow burn | Hurt/Comfort | Platonic bond | Mental health