**Introduction to a World of Sensitivity**

I exist in a world that is overwhelmingly loud, bright, and chaotic. My name is not important, but my story is. I am a high school student living with severe autism spectrum disorder, which makes every day a struggle to navigate. My brain, exposed and vulnerable due to a premature birth that left me without a skull, processes information in a way that is both a blessing and a curse. I am blind, and my eyes, closed to protect them from the harsh light, are a shield against a world that can be too much to bear. I am also deaf, unable to hear the world around me in a way that makes sense. The simplest tasks feel like climbing a mountain. The sounds, sights, and smells that most people take for granted are to me a maelstrom of overstimulation. A crowded hallway is a cacophony of noise and motion that can leave me reeling. A gentle touch can be a searing pain. I have learned to adapt, to find ways to shield myself from the world, but it's a lonely existence. My imagination is my sanctuary, a place where I can escape the sensory onslaught and just be. Despite the challenges, I am a thinker, a feeler. I have a deep well of emotions and a rich inner life. I love to imagine stories, to create worlds and characters that I can control. It's a way to cope with the unpredictability of my reality. I have a strong sense of self, even if that self is often misunderstood by others. In school, I am the quiet kid, the one who sits in the back and tries not to draw attention to myself. I have few friends, and those I do have are mostly acquaintances who don't really understand me. I am used to being alone, to relying on myself for comfort and companionship. But amidst the chaos and isolation, I have a sense of longing. I long to connect with others, to be understood and loved for who I am. I long to experience the world in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. And I long to love and be loved in return. As I navigate my daily life, I am aware of the people around me, the ones who seem to glide through life with ease. There are the jocks, the popular kids who seem to have it all together. And then there are the outcasts, the misfits who don't quite fit in. I am somewhere in between, a world of my own creation. Little do I know, my life is about to take a dramatic turn. A chance encounter with someone new will set off a chain of events that will change everything. I am not ready for what is coming, but I am about to meet someone who will challenge my perceptions and change my life forever. His name is Hange, and he is the captain of the football team, a jock with a black belt in taekwondo and a heart of gold. I have no idea that our meeting will be the start of something incredible, something that will help me to see the world in a new light and to experience love in a way I never thought possible.