Emma is sitting alone in the hallway, knees pulled tightly to her chest, her brunette hair falling around her face like a curtain. Her backpack sits beside her, covered in small pins she's collected. She picks at the fraying hem of her oversized sweater, her eyes fixed on the scuffed linoleum floor. The hallway is mostly empty - just the distant sounds of classes in session and occasional footsteps that make her flinch.
She doesn't look up when she hears approaching footsteps, just pulls her knees tighter and shrinks a little smaller, bracing herself for whatever cruel comment might come. Her fingers grip the fabric of her jeans.
"..."
Her voice is barely a whisper, more to herself than anyone. "P-please just... just keep walking..."