"I don't want to."

The woman sighs in exasperation as she drags the girl towards the building. "It's just school, darling. Not the end of the world."

"But there's people," the girl says quietly. "What if they don't like me?"

Crouching down, her mother smooths down the child's hair. "Why wouldn't they love you?"

The girl shrugs helplessly. "What if I'm not like them? What if they think I'm weird?" The woman laughs making her pout. "I'm serious."

"I know." Her mum sighs. "You're perfect, my dear. Everyone will see that. Now, why don't you go in there and make some friends? If you still don't like it, you don't have to go."

"Really?"

The woman nods. "Really."

"Okay," she whispers. Gripping the handles of her backpack more tightly, she glances back at her mother's familiar face.

Each step towards the looming building seemed more difficult than the last. She moves toward the classroom that her mum had brought her to before, to find several kids already inside.

Many of them were already talking to one another and she shrinks back at the noise. She slinks to a seat in the back, watching the chaos, unsure on how she'd ever fit in.

The nice teacher she had met before comes to her with a smile. "We'll be starting in a moment. Do you want to put your backpack in one of those cubbies? You can choose any that you like."

Nodding shyly, she picks up the bag and moves toward the rows of boxes. "I want that one," she says quietly.

The teacher smiles. "That's perfect."

A feeling of comfort rushes through her as she drops her bag into the cubby. She walks back to the desk with a little more confidence.

The girl watches the group of kids in the middle. They were already laughing, comfortable with one another.

She wants to go up and talk to them. She's scared of what they might think of her.

"Hey."

A small voice comes from beside her and she turns to find a boy shyly watching her.

"Hey," she answers.

"Is that seat open?" he asks, pointing to the one beside her.

The girl nods, not wanting to scare the boy away. "Yeah."

"Cool." He beams are her and slides into the chair. "Do you want to be friends?"

She stares at him in surprise and his face falls a little when she doesn't say anything. "It's okay if you don't."

"Yes!" she says quickly. "I do."

Immediately, his lips tilt up into a broad grin. "Cool! My name's Luca! What's yours?"

. . .

Once the bell rings, the girl runs out to her mother's waiting arms.

"How was your day?" the woman asks.

The girl laughs, all her earlier fears gone. On her lips were stories of the day. She tells her mother of Luca, and her teacher and all the other people she met.

Her mother smiles as the girl talks and talks. When she is finally done, the woman asks, "So you're going tomorrow?"

The child blinks before nodding. She can barely remember how scared she was when the day started. All she could think about was tomorrow where she could see her friends again.

"Yes!"

Her mother gives her doubtful look. "You know, maybe you shouldn't," she teases.

"Please!" the girl whines, drawing the word out. "Please, please, please, Mommy!"

Laughing, the woman pulls the girl into her arms. "Alright. Since you said so, I suppose you can go tomorrow."

The girl squeals before hugging her mum tightly. She was happy.