The first rays of morning sunlight spilled into the classroom. Mina smiled faintly, feeling lighter than usual. Today, nothing major had gone wrong.
During break, she laughed with friends over a shared joke, their giggles echoing softly in the hallways. Kai, her secret crush, caught her eye and smiled at her. Her chest fluttered, and for a moment, everything felt almost magical.
Later, Mina helped a friend who was struggling with reading. The friend hugged her tightly, whispering, "Thank you." Mina felt warmth spread through her chest. Even small victories could feel enormous.
At home, Taro laughed while they cooked a simple dinner together. Mina felt content, a rare and precious feeling. She realized that joy didn't always come from big moments — it came from small kindnesses, laughter shared, and love quietly given and received.
I'll continue with Chapter 9 next, where Mina lets her feelings out, cries, and confronts some of her struggles