Gemma sat on the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone. The latest posts from her classmates flooded her screen—pictures of couples holding hands, cheesy captions about love, and plans for weekend dates. It seemed like everyone was caught up in the whirlwind of high school romance except her. For years, Gemma believed that having a boyfriend was the ultimate goal. She told her friends that once you had someone special, life would fall perfectly into place. "It's all about finding love," she used to say confidently, convinced that this was the key to happiness. But deep down, Gemma felt a growing emptiness she couldn't explain. She watched as some of her friends got caught up in drama, heartbreak, and distractions that pulled them away from their dreams. Slowly, she began to wonder—was this really what she wanted? One afternoon, during biology class, her teacher, Mrs. Johnson, talked about the human body and the incredible work of doctors and scientists who saved lives every day. Gemma found herself captivated—not by the love stories, but by the mysteries of life and healing. That day, a new idea took root in her mind. Maybe there was more to life than just chasing after boys and fleeting romances. Maybe she could do something bigger.

The silence between them was heavy—almost too heavy. It hung in the air like a fog, thick with unspoken words "Hmmmmmmmmmm….. Why didn't you tell me this, Ann?" Felicia's voice broke the silence, shaky but firm. Ann looked away, trying to muster courage. "Felicia, I didn't know how you'd take it. You… you're always so bold and strong. I— I cared about my face, okay?" she finally said, adding a nervous laugh to soften her confession. Felicia blinked. "How will I explain these horrible things to you?" she whispered. "No worries," Ann replied dramatically, trying to make light of the moment. "I never knew you didn't idolize our friendship." "What does that even mean?" Ann asked defensively, folding her arms, but her heart was already racing. "I mean," Felicia began, letting a slow sigh escape her lips, "if you really valued what we had—the way I thought you did—you would have told me immediately. Not let me find out through someone else.".