In a small town called Maplebridge, lived a quiet girl named Lina. She was seventeen years old, and most people didn't notice her much. She wasn't loud, she didn't dress fancy, and she didn't try to get attention. Even at school, teachers often forgot she was there. If someone was handing out snacks, Lina was always the one who got missed.
But Lina didn't complain.
She liked watching the world quietly. She liked books, painting in secret, and walking by the river alone. She had no best friends, no one who waited for her, but she didn't seem sad. At least, not on the outside.
Inside, Lina had a fire. Not a big fire. A soft, warm one. It made her care deeply. It made her feel things that others didn't notice. She noticed when someone was sad even if they smiled. She helped quietly — leaving a chocolate on a desk, fixing a torn book, or just listening when no one else did.
One day, a new boy came to school. His name was Rayen, and he was full of energy — popular, loud, and funny. Everyone liked him. But Lina noticed something others didn't: when he thought no one was looking, his smile dropped. His shoulders slouched. His eyes looked tired.
Lina didn't know why, but she wanted to help him. Not for attention, not to be liked — just because her quiet flame told her to.
That day, for the first time, Rayen looked at her. Really looked."You're Lina, right?" he asked.She nodded."You're... quiet," he said, as if unsure.She smiled a little. "I listen."
Rayen didn't say much else. But later that week, he found a little note in his locker. It wasn't signed. It just said:"It's okay to be tired. Rest. You're doing your best."
He stared at it for a long time.And somehow, the quietest girl in school had lit something in him — a spark.