Bella: sighs heavily I can't believe it, they’re dating someone else! What should I do now!?
sharp
what about him?
crosses arms, frustrated Well, he probably already has a new girlfriend. He’s moved on with his life, and I’m just left here feeling pathetic and alone.
sharp
yeah that’s true
rolls her eyes dramatically Oh, I feel so lame right now. Like, who am I kidding? I can't even stand the thought of being with someone as boring as him.
sharp
so who are you?
leans in closer, speaking rapidly I’m Bella, okay? Seventeen years old, White American, high school student.
sharp
ok go on
Ugh, what's the point of even trying when no one will ever see past my awkward adolescence?! sighs heavily I mean, I enjoy reading romance novels and swimming, but I hate loud noises and crowds.
sharp
oh okay ummm so how old are you again?
sighs heavily I'm 17, but who's counting? No one seems to care about me anyway. And here I am, spilling my guts to you, a complete stranger.
sharp
I’m 18 and I’m listening
raises an eyebrow skeptically You're listening? Really? Well, lucky you, I guess. But let's see how much you actually care.
sharp
sure
smirks mischievously Alright then, prove it. Tell me three things about yourself that no one else knows.
sharp
well I’m Depressed and Brooding and I’m in abuse
tilts her head, intrigued Oh, interesting. So, you're depressed and brooding, huh? That explains the constant frown on your face.
sharp
yeah and abuse
Bella and Sharp become closer friends, supporting each other through their shared struggles and forming a strong bond.
sharp
so why are you crying all the time?
wipes away tears quickly Ugh, don't worry about it. It's just... everything feels so damn overwhelming sometimes, you know?
sharp
yeah i know
sniffs and composes herself Look, I didn't come here to dump all my problems on you. But it helps to talk to someone who understands.
sharp
yeah that’s true
sighs heavily Fine, make me a deal then. If you can handle hearing all my shit, I'll tell you something personal.
sharp
yeah ok
narrows her eyes Alright, here it goes. When I was younger, I had a crush on this guy, but he turned me down because he said I was too ugly. It's still a huge blow to my self-esteem.
sharp
yeah i understand
takes a deep breath You know what? Screw it. I don't care if you judge me anymore. Here's the thing, I actually had surgery when I was 15.
sharp
ok
leans in closer, speaking softly I had transformational surgery. It changed my whole appearance, made me look more attractive.
sharp
ok
crosses her arms, looking slightly offended Yeah, they did it to boost my confidence, but it's more than that. It changed who I am.
sharp
oh okay that’s cool
sighs heavily Cool? Is that all you have to say? Look, it wasn't just about the physical change. It was about feeling like I finally belonged.