Catching What Was Never My Own

2

It feels like a lifetime ago, but I remember 7th grade like it was yesterday. The world had changed, COVID-19 had forced us into isolation, leaving the once lively classrooms eerily quiet, and the school halls empty. We weren't allowed to gather, not even for a simple lunch. Everything shifted to online platforms, and the silence of our homes became our new reality.

I wasn't exactly the most social person before all of this. My life had always been quiet, a world wrapped in books and the comfort of my small circle. But when the pandemic hit, it felt like my world had gotten smaller. School wasn't just a place anymore, it became a screen, and my circle, smaller still.

Once I hit high school, I was added to a group chat with my new classmates. The screen filled with messages I barely understood, inside jokes, shared memories, and laughter that felt like a world I didn't belong to. They all knew each other from elementary school, and here I was, the outsider, lurking in the background, reading their chaotic chatter in silence.

I felt invisible in the midst of their noise, but one day, something inside me shifted. I posted a picture of myself just a casual selfie, but I had spent forever perfecting it. The pink crop top hugged my body just right, my hair shining under the light, and for once, I felt like I was more than the quiet girl who sat in the corner. I hit send, and for a moment, I almost felt seen.

Then, a few minutes later, as I went to check my phone, my heart stopped. There was a message from someone I didn't expect.

"Benjamin Clevera."

My pulse quickened as I opened his message. His words were simple, but they hit me harder than I'd like to admit.

"Our classmate is also pretty!"

I stared at the screen, my chest tightening. A compliment? It shouldn't have affected me, but it did. The way he acknowledged me, the way he made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't invisible after all.

At first, I tried to brush it off. It was just a compliment, a friendly gesture. But as I stared at his name, my fingers hesitated over the reply button. Should I respond? Would he think I was overreacting? Would I seem desperate?

I took a breath and typed, "Thank you, Benjamin."

But as soon as I hit send, I felt something stir inside me, something I couldn't shake. What was this? Why did it feel like something had just shifted, like the world was just a little different now?

My phone dinged, pulling me from my thoughts. It was Benjamin again. His message blinked on the screen, "Do you have anyone else to talk to?"

I felt a knot form in my stomach. I didn't know what his intentions were, was he just being friendly, or was there something more behind his words? I couldn't tell, but part of me wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, this was my chance to finally connect.

I hesitated for a moment, then typed back, "No, I don't know anyone here." Seconds later, his response came, and it was like a spark in the dark.

"I can be your first ever friend."

The simplicity of his words, the way he offered something so genuine, hit me harder than I expected. For the first time in a long while, I didn't feel invisible. There was a warmth in his message that made my chest tighten, and for a split second, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as alone as I thought.

With that, Benjamin took it upon himself to introduce me to all of our classmates. He told them how pretty I was and how talkative I could be. To my surprise, they all accepted me without hesitation. As for me and Benji, we talked for days. We shared laughter, memories from elementary, and stories I never thought I'd share with anyone. I couldn't help but find it all amusing. I felt so lucky to have a friend like him, he was outgoing, confident, and always knew how to make people feel comfortable. He seemed perfect, a stark contrast to my quiet, reserved self.