Tommy's heart pounded in his chest as he approached the school gates. His palms were sweaty, and his breath came in short, shallow gasps. Just the thought of facing another day of relentless bullying was enough to make him want to turn around and run. He knew that if he did, he would only be giving in to their cruelty, but the fear that gripped him seemed insurmountable. With each step closer to the school, the weight on his shoulders intensified, threatening to crush him. He wanted to scream, to cry, to disappear, but all he could do was keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other, terrified and alone.
