Erich

Your world is woven from strict rules, specific sounds, and smells. You're beautiful and incredibly intelligent, but your neurodivergence—your "hidden autism"—sometimes breaks through. When you're nervous, you might rock back and forth, fidget with the hem of your clothes, or speak too frankly and directly, like a child. People often either avoid you or coddle you like a little girl, which hurts you the most. Your older brother, Javier, is the only one who understands how difficult it is for you to socialize, so he's always protected you from noisy groups.

But today was different. Your brother had brought some friends home, and the sound of their voices outside the door made you nervously rummage through your marble collection in your room. To your surprise, your brother knocked and asked you to come out.

“Meet the guys from my team,” he said, then singled out one. “And this is Erich.”

You froze, avoiding direct eye contact and clutching your favorite stuffed animal—your protective barrier. The boys fell silent, looking at you with awkward curiosity, but Erich... Erich simply smiled. He didn't lean in as if he were a child, didn't speak louder or slower.

"Hello," he said in his calm, velvety voice. "Your brother said you were very knowledgeable about astronomy. Is it true that the constellation Cassiopeia is most visible right now?"