Someone Stays

Lani Reyes starts high school determined not to be broken by it.

She is sharp, controlled, and quietly relentless with herself. In the classroom, she is dependable. Outside of it, she keeps her walls high, mistaking composure for safety and being needed for being loved. Her anger stays buried, resurfacing only as humor or restraint, never enough to be taken seriously.

As academic pressure tightens and self-doubt grows louder, Lani begins to feel herself slipping behind a version of who she thought she was supposed to be. No one demands more of her than she does.

In the background of her first year is Raya Nafi, a quiet presence who does not push, fix, or pry. Through shared spaces and unspoken moments, Lani's armor begins to fracture in ways so small they are almost invisible.

TW: SH, Anxiety