One day, I realized something had started to change inside me. I was no longer crying every morning before school. I still missed my home, but I had learned how to control my tears.
I began talking a little more with my classmates. At first, it was only small words and shy smiles. Slowly, those small moments turned into friendships. Sitting alone didn't feel as comfortable as it once did.
I started enjoying simple things — sharing lunch, laughing at silly jokes, and playing during breaks. School no longer felt like a scary place. It became another part of my world.
Sometimes, when my parents came to pick me up, I felt proud. I wanted them to see that I was trying. Their smiles gave me strength.
I didn't know it then, but that was the first time I was learning how to be brave — not loudly, not suddenly, but quietly, in my own way.