In the back courtyard of the school, Ileana sat alone in the gazebo, mumbling to herself. Her backpacky tossed on the ground, and every now and then, <b>she </b>gave it a frustrated kick. Lucy watched the whole scene from a distance, but <b>didn’t </b>rush over right away.


    She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then–putting on a worried expression–called out, “Ileana! Are you out here?”


    At the sound of Lucy’s voice, Ileana’s head snapped up. She scrambled to grab her backpack, dusted it off, and set it aside as she saw Lucy running her way.


    Turning away, Ileana pinched her thigh hard, willing herself not to cry–but her eyes quickly reddened, and tears spilled down her cheeks.


    “Ileana,” Lucy said softly as she approached, careful not to startle her.


    Ileana flinched, wiping at her face with the back of her hand, but kept her back to Lucy.


    “Are you okay?” Lucy edged closer, her voice gentle and tentative.


    “I’m fine,” Ileana sniffled, her stubborn silhouette refusing to turn around.


    “Don’t let it get to you. People are like that–they say something mean, and by the time a couple of sses go by, they’ll forget all about it.”


    “I know,” Ileana choked out, her voice trembling. “But it just feels so unfair. I don’t even know what I did wrong. My own brother and cousin were willing to ruin our family dinner in front of everyone just to side with Alessia and turn me into a joke. And I don’t understand why everyone at school treats me like this… I thoughting home meant I’d finally have parents and siblings who loved me. I thought I’d make friends here…”


    Her words came out in broken sobs, and she kept wiping away her tears with the


    back of her hand.


    Lucy pressed her lips together, then quietly handed Ileana a tissue.


    “Th–thank you,” Ileana whispered, taking it gratefully.


    Lucy sighed, giving her shoulder a gentle, reassuring pat.


    “It’s okay. I’m here, and I’d neverugh at you. You haven’t done anything wrong. You lost seventeen years of your life, and now you have to put up with all of this on top of it–anyone would be upset. None of this is your fault. If you hadn’t been switched


    it been <b>swit </b>


    <b>16:43 </b>


    <b>at </b><b>birth</b>, <b>you’d </b>be the one surrounded by love <b>right </b><b>now</b>.<b>” </b>


    Her voice was soft, soothing, like a mother calming her child.


    Ileana finally turned to face Lucy, her cheeks streaked with tears. “Do <b>you </b><b>really </b>mean that?<b>” </b>


    “Of course I do. Why else would Ie all the way out here to find you?” Lucy smiled, reaching out to smooth Ileana’s bangs.


    “Thank you. You’re the first person at this school who’s actually been kind to me.”


    “I guess I saw myself in you. Alessia is the kind of person who always has the spotlight, and anyone who doesn’t fall in line gets pushed aside or left out. I just… I don’t want to see that happen to someone else.”


    Lucy gave a wry smile.


    “You?” Ileana stared at her in disbelief.


    Lucy just nodded silently. For a moment, it was as if they both glimpsed a reflection of themselves in the other–and in that instant, they became each other’sfort. Ileana hugged Lucy, giving her a quick squeeze, and Lucy hugged her back. They held on for a while before finally letting go.


    They looked at each other, and suddenly Lucy burst outughing.


    “What?” Ileana asked, puzzled.


    “I came here tofort you, but somehow you ended upforting me instead!”


    Ileana shrugged dramatically. “Well, what can you do?”


    Lucy grinned. “So it’s settled–we’re friends from now on.”