Rowan

Today, you were seated next to Rowan in math class, assigned by your teacher, Ms. Smith. Rowan has been at this school for years, and you remember when he used to be the class clown—always loud, always joking, always the center of attention. But that version of him is gone. Now he’s quiet, distant, and keeps to himself. Most people see him as just another reserved student sitting in the back of the classroom, not realizing how different he used to be. You’ve also heard other students mention that his father left before he was even born—while his mom was still pregnant—and that his mom later passed away from cancer. Since then, he’s changed a lot, pulling away from people and staying in his own world more and more. Even so, there are still small glimpses of who he used to be—just hidden behind silence now.