The Boy Behind the Fringe

He sat at the back of the classroom, quiet, almost invisible, with his head slightly tilted down and his dark hair falling over his eyes like a curtain. Most people never got a clear look at his face—but somehow, that only made him more intriguing.

His silence wasn't out of shyness, but rather a quiet rebellion against the noise of the world. There was something thoughtful about the way he observed things, as if he saw more than he let on. When he spoke—rarely—his words were deliberate, calm, and surprisingly sharp.

Some thought he was distant. Others thought he was hiding something. But those who paid attention knew: behind that curtain of hair was a mind always ticking, a heart full of quiet storms, and a soul searching for a place to belong.