rs. She told him physical education wasn’t only about winning or competition, but about movement, confidence, and finding what made your body feel capable. Then she gave him a choice: rejoin the game, help keep score, or take a short walk while tracking his steps. Relief softened his face.
In the weeks that followed, small shifts appeared. He helped set up equipment. He joined briefly, stepped out when needed, and no one pushed or mocked him. The field grew less intimidating. By term’s end, he wasn’t the fastest or loudest—but he smiled more. Years later, she wouldn’t remember him as the boy who stood alone, but as the quiet reminder that being seen can change everything.
