Once upon a time, in the small town of Elmwood, there lived a lively and cheerful woman named Gertrude.

She was known for her infectious laughter, kindness, and her remarkable ability to make friends wherever she went.

Gertrude had a loyal companion who had always been by her side, helping her through the ups and downs of life – her ex-friend, Charlotte.

Gertrude and Charlotte were inseparable.

They would spend their afternoons exploring the local parks, laughing at each other's jokes, and offering support and encouragement when needed.

They were the best of friends, or so Gertrude thought.

One sunny morning, Gertrude woke up excitedly because it was the annual sports day in Elmwood.

She couldn't wait to participate in the various activities and cheer for her friends.

However, as she started getting ready, Gertrude realized something was amiss.

Charlotte was nowhere to be found.

Concerned, Gertrude searched high and low for her friend.

Eventually, after a long search, she spotted Charlotte standing near the entrance of the sports field.

Excitedly, Gertrude approached her, ready to share her excitement and ask for Charlotte's assistance throughout the day.

To Gertrude's shock, as soon as she stood before Charlotte, her ex-friend slapped her across the face, leaving Gertrude stunned and hurt.

Before Gertrude could understand what had just happened, Charlotte spoke words that cut through Gertrude's heart like a thousand knives.

"I hate you," Charlotte spat, her eyes filled with anger.

"You're nothing but a burden.

Leave me alone."

Gertrude's eyes welled up with tears.

She couldn't comprehend why Charlotte, her loyal friend, would suddenly turn against her.

The pain of those hurtful words ran deep, leaving Gertrude feeling shattered and betrayed.

Despite Gertrude's heartbreak, she realized that she couldn't force someone to be her friend.

Although it hurt tremendously, she would have to accept that their friendship had come to an end.

However, Gertrude also knew that she shouldn't let this moment define her or overshadow her spirit.

With determination in her heart, Gertrude wiped away her tears and mustered up the strength to carry on.

Sports day went by in a blur, but Gertrude refused to let the pain consume her.

She focused on supporting her other friends, participating in events to the best of her ability, and finding joy in the little victories.

As the day progressed, Gertrude's positivity and unwavering spirit started to inspire those around her.

People who had witnessed Charlotte's hurtful words realized the depth of Gertrude's resilience and kindness.

Slowly, they rallied around her, offering words of encouragement and genuine friendship.

Gertrude flourished in the aftermath of that painful encounter.

She learned to value herself and attract friends who genuinely cared for her well-being.

The experience taught her the importance of surrounding herself with people who uplifted her and brought out the best in her.

Years passed, and Gertrude moved on, filling her life with extraordinary adventures, new friends, and endless laughter.

She became a symbol of strength and resilience in the community, inspiring others to never let the hurtful actions of one person define their worth.

And so, Gertrude's journey continued, blossoming into a tale of personal growth and the power of self-love.

Although her ex-friend had left a scar on her heart, Gertrude emerged from that dark moment with an unwavering spirit, ready to embrace the beautiful friendships and experiences that awaited her in the world.

One day, somewhere on planet earth, two friends named Lily and Alex were having a conversation.

Lily exclaimed, "I have school tomorrow! High school, to make it even worse!"

Lily then sighed and said, "But school is so boring!"

Alex added, "And guess what? Staying at a guy who's always in his bed all day and plays video games is gonna be even more boring."

Lily rolled her eyes and protested, "Come on, I dislike school so much!"

Alex chuckled, "Well, bud, I guess you have to deal with it.

After all, you're not seven anymore.

You're turning thirteen soon!"

Lily's eyes widened with surprise and excitement.

"You're right!" she exclaimed, "It's almost my birthday!"

Alex grinned, knowing his teasing had suddenly taken a backseat to Lily's excitement.

"That's right! So, let's focus on celebrating your upcoming birthday instead of school, shall we?"

Lily beamed and nodded, feeling the weight of school temporarily lifted off her shoulders.

With the thought of her birthday, she could already picture the presents, the cake, and of course, the unforgettable memories they would create together.

As the day of Lily's birthday approached, she couldn't help but think about the new chapter in her life - high school.

She realized that while school could be challenging and sometimes boring, it was also an opportunity to grow, make new friends, and discover new passions.

On the morning of Lily's birthday, her alarm clock went off, reminding her that school awaited.

But this time, she felt a renewed sense of excitement.

Today was not just an ordinary day; it was the beginning of a new adventure.

With a smile on her face, Lily dressed in her favorite birthday outfit, ready to face the day ahead.

She realized that as she grew older, her perspective had shifted.

School was no longer just about books and homework, but also about the incredible journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

As she entered the school building, this time, she did so with a spring in her step.

She greeted her friends and teachers with more enthusiasm than ever before.

The day unfolded with laughter, learning, and pleasant surprises.

Lily realized that even on her birthday, her classmates were there to make her feel special and loved.

At the end of the day, Lily returned home, still wearing her irresistible smile.

She looked back at the day, grateful for the experience it had brought.

Lily realized that while school may not always be exciting, it was a stepping stone towards her dreams and aspirations.

As she blew out her birthday candles later that evening, surrounded by friends and family, Lily made a silent wish - a wish for endless opportunities, cherished friendships, and the resilience to face challenges that lay ahead.

In that moment, Lily understood that her birthday was not just a celebration of getting older but a reminder that with each passing year, she was growing wiser, stronger, and ready to take on the world – one day at a time.

Ash was nervous as she walked into her new middle school. She had just moved to a different city and she didn't know anyone there. She missed her old friends from elementary school, who were all going to different schools. She felt lonely and scared.

She checked her schedule and saw that she had to go to the office first to get a tour of the school. She hoped that the person who would show her around would be nice and friendly. She didn't want to make a bad impression on her first day.

She entered the office and saw a woman sitting behind a desk. She smiled and greeted Ash.

"Hi, you must be Lily. I'm Ms. Jones, the guidance counselor. Welcome to our school!"

"Hi, Ms. Jones. Thank you," Ash said shyly.

"I'm going to give you a tour of the school and show you where your classes are. Do you have any questions before we start?"

Ash shook her head. She just wanted to get it over with.

"Ok, then follow me," Ms. Jones said and led Ash out of the office.

They walked through the hallways and Ms. Jones pointed out the different rooms and facilities. Ash tried to pay attention, but she felt overwhelmed by all the new information. She wondered if she would ever fit in here.

As they passed by a bulletin board, something caught Ash's eye. It was a poster that said "LGBTQ+ Student Safe Space". It had a rainbow flag and a list of dates and times for meetings.

Ash felt a surge of curiosity and excitement. She had always known that she was different from other girls, but she had never told anyone about it. She had never met anyone who was like her, either. She wondered what it would be like to go to one of those meetings and talk to other students who understood her.

She looked at Ms. Jones and saw that she was smiling at her.

"Are you interested in joining the LGBTQ+ Student Safe Space?" Ms. Jones asked.

Ash felt her face turn red. She didn't know what to say.

"It's ok, you don't have to answer right now," Ms. Jones said gently. "But I want you to know that this is a safe and supportive place for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or any other sexual or gender identity. We have meetings every Wednesday after school in room 101. You're welcome to come anytime."

Ash nodded silently. She felt a mix of emotions: happiness, fear, hope, doubt.

They continued the tour and soon arrived at the library. Ash loved reading books, so she was eager to see what the library had to offer.

She entered the library and gasped in awe. It was huge and filled with books of all kinds and genres. She saw shelves labeled with different categories: fiction, non-fiction, biography, history, science, art, etc.

She also saw another poster that said "LGBTQ+ Books on Display". It had a picture of a bookshelf with various books that had LGBTQ+ themes or characters.

Ash felt drawn to the poster and walked towards it. She saw some titles that she recognized: "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda", "The Miseducation of Cameron Post", "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe", etc.

She also saw some titles that she had never heard of before: "The House You Pass on the Way", "If I Was Your Girl", "George", etc.

She picked up one of the books and read the blurb on the back cover. It sounded interesting and relatable.

She looked at Ms. Jones again and saw that she was still smiling at her.

"Are you interested in reading any of these books?" Ms. Jones asked.

Ash nodded eagerly. She wanted to read them all.

"That's great," Ms. Jones said. "You can borrow up to three books at a time from the library. Just show your student ID card at the checkout desk."

Ash thanked Ms. Jones and quickly grabbed three books from the shelf. She felt happy and excited as she held them in her hands.

They finished the tour and Ms. Jones took Ash to her first class.

"I hope you have a great first day, Ash," Ms. Jones said as they parted ways.

"Thank you, Ms. Jones," Ash said sincerely.

She entered the classroom and looked for an empty seat. She saw a girl sitting by herself in the front row. She had short black hair and glasses and was wearing a rainbow bracelet on her wrist.

Lily decided to sit next to her and introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Ash. I'm new here."

The girl looked up at her and smiled.

"Hi, I'm Maya. Nice to meet you."

They started chatting and Ash found out that Maya was also in the LGBTQ+ Student Safe Space and the Equal Rights Club. She also liked reading books and listening to music.

Ash felt a connection with Maya and hoped that they could be friends.

She also felt a new sense of hope and optimism. Maybe this school wasn't so bad after all. Maybe she could find her place here. Maybe she could be herself here.

She smiled as she opened one of the books she had borrowed from the library. She was ready for a new beginning.