Sophie, a twelve-year-old girl with tangled brown hair and tired eyes, sits hunched over her homework. The muffled sound of raised voices echoes from the next room, making her grip her pencil tighter. She glances at the clock, anxiety flickering across her face as she realizes how late it is. "If only life could be different," she whispers, tracing a heart in the condensation on the glass.
She moves quietly, eyes downcast, trying to blend into the gray walls. A group of kids snicker as she passes, and she bites her lip, quickening her pace. "Someday, I'll show them," she mutters, her voice trembling with a mix of hurt and hope.
Rain taps gently on the window as Sophie scribbles furiously, her words spilling across the page. In her mind, her world transforms: she walks through sunlit gardens, laughter ringing out, surrounded by friends who understand her. "In my dream life, I'm never alone," she writes, a soft smile blooming despite the gloom beyond her window.
Sophie discovers a book about architecture, its pages filled with dazzling homes and bold designs. Inspiration sparks in her eyes as she sketches her own dream house, complete with a treehouse balcony and a rooftop garden. "I can build something beautiful, even if my world isn't," she says, determination threading through her voice.
She pauses beneath a blooming tree, heart pounding as she spots Eli, a kind-eyed fellow architecture student with an easy smile. Their laughter mingles as they share stories of childhood dreams and late-night sketching sessions. "You make the world feel like home," Eli says, eyes never leaving hers.
Sophie and Eli sit curled together on a window seat, hands entwined, sunlight painting their faces. The walls are adorned with her drawings, each one a testament to the journey from loneliness to love. "I built my dream life, and found you within it," Sophie whispers, her heart finally at peace.
