Joella stood at the school gate, clutching the straps of her backpack so tightly her fingers turned white. The other kids were laughing, chatting, and running around, but Joella couldn’t move. Everything about this new school felt big and unfamiliar, and her stomach twisted into nervous knots. What if no one wanted to talk to her? What if they all had their friends already? What if they looked at her and said, "You don't belong here?"
Joella slowly sat down on a bench, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. It was recess, but everyone else seemed to have found their friends. She watched the other kids playing, laughing, and running around, but her legs felt like they were made of jelly, and her heart pounded in her chest. She wished she could join them, but it felt like too much. "Maybe tomorrow," she thought, her voice inside her head sounding small and unsure.
The next day, Joella decided to bring her favorite book to school. It wasn’t much, but she thought maybe someone might notice it and start a conversation. At recess, she sat on the same bench, feeling both hopeful and nervous. She opened the book and started reading, her fingers tracing the words. She glanced around, hoping someone might come over. Her heart skipped a beat when a girl with long, straight black hair and a bright, friendly smile walked past. The girl stopped when she saw the book in Joella's hands.
"I love that book too!" she said, her eyes lighting up. Joella looked up, her heart racing. She smiled shyly, feeling a little less nervous. "It’s my favorite too," she said, her voice quiet but excited. The girl sat down beside Joella. "I’m Zariah," she said with a smile. Joella felt a small thrill. She could talk about her book! Zariah was so kind, and it felt good to talk to someone about something she loved.
The next day, Joella felt a little braver. At lunchtime, she saw a group of kids playing a game of tag. Her heart beat faster as she watched them run, laughing and calling to each other. Joella remembered how nice it had been to talk with Zariah, and she wondered—maybe, just maybe, she could join in. Taking a deep breath, Joella walked over to the group of kids. "Can I play too?" she asked quietly. A boy with messy hair shook his head. "Sorry, we’re already playing," he said. Joella’s heart sank, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. Without saying another word, she turned away, feeling small. But then, something inside her whispered: Don’t give up.
That afternoon, Joella was sitting quietly when she saw Zariah waving at her from a spot by the swings. Zariah was sitting with a few other kids, chatting and laughing. "Hey, Joella!" called out. "Come sit with us!" Joella hesitated. Her stomach fluttered again, but this time it wasn’t from fear—it was the familiar feeling of being unsure. She almost turned away, thinking it would be easier to stay by herself. But then she remembered how happy she’d felt talking to Zariah about the book. With a deep breath, Joella smiled and stood up, walking over to Zariah’s group, her heart still pounding but stronger now, like a drumbeat of hope.
