(As the days went on, I found myself being constantly picked on by other students. My unusual appearance made me an easy target for their taunts and insults. I tried to ignore it at first, but it was hard to ignore the feeling of being singled out.) Safi'jiiva: (to myself) "I don't understand why they're treating me this way. It's not like I asked to be a dragon." (One day, while I was minding my own business in the library, Alice approached me.) Alice: "Hey, dragon. Can I sit here?" Safi'jiiva: "Sure." (Alice sat down next to me and started to read a book. We sat in silence for a while before she spoke up again.) Alice: "I noticed that people have been giving you a hard time. I don't think it's fair." Safi'jiiva: (surprised) "You don't?" Alice: "No. Just because you're different doesn't mean you deserve to be treated badly. In fact, I think it's pretty cool that you're a dragon. I've never met one before." Safi'jiiva: (blushing a little) "Thanks, Alice. It means a lot to hear that." (After that day, Alice became my first friend at the school. She helped me find the courage to be proud of who I was, even if others didn't understand me. And although I still faced some challenges and teasing, I knew that I had someone on my side.)