Always Be Kind

The late afternoon sun cast long, lazy shadows across the school grounds as Alex and Sam walked side-by-side, their footsteps falling into an easy, comfortable rhythm. The air was alive with the distant shouts of younger children playing on the swings and the murmur of conversations drifting from open classroom windows, but for Alex and Sam, it was as if they were in their own quiet bubble. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient oak tree by the main gate, sending a shower of golden light dappling their path.

Sam’s shoulders, usually held with a slight tension, seemed looser today. A small, genuine smile played on their lips as they recounted a particularly funny moment from their art class, a story Alex had genuinely enjoyed. Alex listened, not just with their ears, but with their whole being, nodding and offering small interjections that showed they were truly present. There was a warmth in their gaze, a soft understanding that had taken time, and a few stumbles, to cultivate.

“And then,” Sam continued, their voice infused with a touch of amusement, “Mr. Davies, he tripped over his own easel. It was so ridiculous, but he just laughed it off. Everyone was looking, and he just… kept going.”