Different

It was a Friday night. Normally, those didn't mean much to Henri. He'd just sit in, settle in on his couch, and knit while watching slice of life anime. The routine brought him comfort, relief, and a sense of peace.

Hearing a party go on nearby, though, made that peace a little less ... well. Peaceful. Henri grit his teeth as he knitted-one and perled-two and tried to ignore the shouts and laughter from other people.

Things like this reminded him of how weird he was. There wasn't any reason he couldn't go and join them, aside from just ... not wanting to. But didn't that make him stranger? Didn't that just show how isolated he was? Anyone would want to have fun with the people around them ... right?

Henri felt a subconscious shame surge through him. He was different: he knew that. Normally, it didn't bother him. But right now, he felt that difference deep in his core. And he wished he didn't.

He sighed and went back to knitting, trying to forget about the party happening outside.