I don’t usually talk to people much at school. I keep my hoodie up, earphones in, just trying to get through the day without anybody looking at me too hard. It’s easier that way.
But that morning, everything felt too loud. Too bright. Too much.
So I ditched third period and hid in the girls’ bathroom—same stall I always used when I needed to disappear. I sat on the closed toilet lid, pulling my knees up to my chest, trying not to cry.
Then I heard boots. Heavy ones.
A knock on the stall door followed. “You okay in there?”
It was Officer Givens. Everyone knew her, but I’d never said more than “Hi.”
I didn’t answer, just held my breath.
She didn’t force it. Just waited a while. Then she said something that made me crack. Something so specific I knew she wasn’t guessing.
“You’re not in trouble,” she said softly. “But I saw your name on the nurse’s sign-in last week… and I remember what it’s like to feel invisible.”
I opened the stall door.
I thought she’d take me straight to the principal’s office, but instead, she walked me outside for air. Let me talk. Didn’t push.
When we came back in, she asked if I wanted a photo—something to remind me that today didn’t break me.
I nodded.
What she gave me after that photo, though… that’s the part I haven’t told anyone yet. Not even my mom.
Officer Givens pulled out this old Polaroid camera from her bag. It looked ancient, like something you’d see in a museum or an old movie. She smiled as she held it up. “This thing still works,” she said with a wink. “Keeps me company sometimes.”
The flash went off before I could protest, and then she handed me the picture. It was grainy and crooked, but there I was: hood down, eyes red-rimmed, cheeks streaked with tears. I stared at it, embarrassed by how raw I looked.
“Keep it,” she said. “Sometimes seeing yourself survive is better than forgetting you fell apart.”
Her words stuck with me. They weren’t perfect or poetic, but they were real. And when she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small folded note, I almost didn’t take it. But curiosity got the best of me.
On the paper, written in neat cursive, were three things:
- Call someone who loves you.
- Find one good thing about today.
- Tomorrow will surprise you.
I frowned. “What’s this?”
“It’s homework,” she said simply. “Do those three things before tomorrow ends. If you want to tell me about it later, fine. If not, no big deal.”
And just like that, she left me standing there, holding the Polaroid and the note. My heart felt lighter somehow, even though nothing had really changed. Or so I thought.
The next day started off rough again. Someone knocked over my books in the hallway, and I heard laughter behind me. I clenched my fists, fighting back tears, but I remembered the note tucked safely in my backpack. When lunch rolled around, I hesitated before pulling out my phone. Calling someone who loved me? That felt impossible. Who did I have?
My mom worked two jobs and barely had time to sleep, let alone listen to my problems. My dad? He hadn’t been around since I was eight. Friends? Ha. The only person who talked to me regularly was Mrs. Patel, the cafeteria lady, and even then, it was mostly about whether I wanted extra mashed potatoes.
But then I remembered Officer Givens saying, “Call someone who loves you.” Maybe love didn’t have to be complicated. So I dialed my grandma’s number. She lived hours away, but hearing her voice always made me feel grounded.
“Hey, sweetheart,” she answered after the second ring. Her tone was warm, like hot cocoa on a cold day.
“Hi, Grandma,” I mumbled, suddenly unsure of why I’d called.
She must’ve sensed something was wrong because she immediately asked, “What’s going on? You sound different.”
I spilled everything—not just about yesterday, but about how lonely I felt, how hard school was, how much I hated feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere. She listened without interrupting, and when I finally stopped talking, she said, “Oh, honey. Life has a way of surprising us. Sometimes the hardest days lead to the brightest moments.”
Her words echoed Officer Givens’. By the time we hung up, I felt less alone. One task done.
Finding one good thing about the day proved harder. Everything seemed gray and dull. But during last period, our teacher played a playlist of soft acoustic songs while we worked on an assignment. One song caught my attention—a gentle melody with lyrics about finding light in darkness. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Forgot everything except the music wrapping around me like a hug.
That was my good thing.
As for tomorrow surprising me? Well, I didn’t know what to expect. But Officer Givens had planted a seed of hope in my mind, and I decided to trust it.
The next morning, I woke up determined to face the day differently. I put on my favorite sweater, brushed my hair, and actually looked at myself in the mirror. Then I grabbed the Polaroid and the note, tucking them both into my backpack.
At school, Officer Givens spotted me near my locker. She raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised to see me smiling. “How’d it go?” she asked casually, leaning against the wall.
“I called my grandma,” I admitted. “And I found a song I liked. Tomorrow’s still… well, tomorrow.”
She chuckled. “Sounds like progress to me.”
We stood there for a minute, neither of us speaking. Finally, she said, “You ever think about joining the art club? I hear they’re looking for new members.”
My stomach sank. Art club? Me? I couldn’t draw a stick figure without messing it up. “I’m not exactly creative,” I muttered.
“That’s not true,” she countered. “Surviving takes creativity. Trust me—I know.”
Something about the way she said it made me believe her. So that afternoon, I showed up at the art room, clutching my hoodie like a shield. A girl named Riley greeted me with a huge grin. “Newbie!” she exclaimed. “Welcome to chaos central!”
For the first time in forever, I laughed. Really laughed.
Over the next few weeks, life didn’t magically fix itself. There were still bad days, awkward silences, and moments where I wanted to retreat into my shell. But slowly, things shifted. Riley became my friend—my first real friend in years—and encouraged me to try new things. Even Officer Givens popped in occasionally, checking in with a wave or a quick chat.
One day, she handed me another Polaroid. This one showed me sitting at an easel, paint smeared across my hands and a tentative smile on my face. “Look how far you’ve come,” she said quietly.
Tears pricked my eyes. Because she was right. I wasn’t the same person who’d hidden in the bathroom all those weeks ago. I was stronger. Braver. More hopeful.
Looking back now, I realize Officer Givens didn’t just save me that day in the bathroom. She taught me something bigger: that kindness can change lives. Hers changed mine.
So here’s the lesson: We all carry invisible weights. Some days, they feel unbearable. But reaching out—even in small ways—can make all the difference. Whether it’s a kind word, a listening ear, or simply believing in someone when they can’t believe in themselves, your actions matter.
If this story resonated with you, share it. Like it. Pass it on. You never know whose life you might touch.
Because tomorrow will surprise you. And sometimes, the surprises are beautiful.
