The playground was a cacophony of laughter and chatter, the usual hum of a busy day. Leo had come to Lyons College on a business trip, but he found himself drawn to the playground section, watching the kids play. It was a familiar scene, one that he remembered from his own childhood days, but today, something was different.
He caught sight of her nearly immediately. Liana stood at the swings, her dark curls bouncing as she pumped herself back and forth slowly. There was a sadness in her eyes that reached something deep within him. He noticed a group of children approach her, their voices increasing in a teasing chorus.
"Hey, weirdo," one of the boys yelled, his voice teasing. "Why don't you go play by yourself?"
Liana's eyes welled up with tears, but she didn't utter a word. She just co
