All people are connected, whether they know it or not. A perfect stranger can be the cause of either triumph or ruin, done intentionally or not. Life is like that. You think you don't have any damn business with the guy across the street. Well, you're about to find out that isn't the case.

8:45 am (15 minutes till the start of class)

She hurriedly ran across the halls since she doesn't want to be late(yes, she is time conscious). Then of all the unluckiest things to happened, she bumped into a complete stranger. Books then flew into the air, leaving the poor guy to pick them up. Feeling guilty, she helps him and notices that he carries an unusually heavy bag. An uncomfortable silence ensues, until she strikes up a conversation.

"Hi! I think I haven't seen you around here."

Smiling at her, the guy replies "That's because I'm new. By the way, I'm Carlos."

"Genna."

12:00 pm (lunch time!!!!!!!!!!!)

Grabbing a cinnamon roll off the counter, Genna then saw Carlos siiting alone in a table. Considering that her best friend was away on a gymnastics competition, she decided to eat with him.

"Hi Carlos! Remember me?" His lone figure looked up at her and smiled.

"Of course, Genna. Here, have a seat."

They then spend the rest of lunch talking about trivial stuff while enjoying each others company and cinnamon rolls!!!

4:00 pm (Dismissal time)

Upon stepping out of the school grounds, Genna again saw Carlos carrying all his books, unusual for you could always keep some of your books in the lockers.

"Carlos!!!!"

"Well, nice seeing you again, Genna." Again noticing the huge pile of books he was carrying, she then helped him.

"Carlos, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Why do you carry all your books home with you?"

Taking a huge breath, he answered. "Someday, Genna, you will know."

Upon reaching his house, he offered to give her some drinks and they (again) had a good time talking.

AFTER A FEW MONTHS....

Genna and Carlos became good friends. With Genna's friends and big brothers, they both had a lot of fun, and they spent the whole school year together. Before you know it, it was graduation day.

1:45 pm (15 minutes before the graduation ceremony)

"Well, this is our last year together!!!!" Genna exclaimed.

"Well, I'll certainly miss you Genna." Carlos replied.

"Me too."

During the course of the school year, Carlos have proven himself to be a very smart man, surpassing even Genna, who was the resident genius, which she didn't mind. He was supposed to give the ending speech to all the graduates.

Seeing that Carlos was nervous...

"Come on Carlos, you'll be fine. Just say it from the heart."

"I really can't help it Genna. I'm not a natural born speaker, like you are."

"You'll do great."

SPEECH TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Before I give my speech, you should all know that I prepared a really long one, but following the advice of a close friend, I'll just speak from the heart."

Silent laughter ensued from the audience, Carlos then continued.

" In our high school lives, chaos is really rampant and you would usually get sucked in by all the deppression around you. Without friends, one might even get tempted to take his life." A hush fell over the crowd.

" I was that person. Following a sudden move from my hometown, I lost my friends, all that was familiar to me. So when I stepped into this school, I made an unconscious decision that this will be the last day I would ever step into this strange place."

Tears then stung the eyes of the majority of the audience.

" At the last hour, I cleared my locker, so that my parents wouldn't do that for me, when the found me dead, after consuming a lot of sleeping pills. But it just took one person. One person to say hello, to inquire if I was okay or not to change my perspective. Ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about Genna Simone."

"Oh my..." Genna muttered.

"Genna, thank you for all the times you have been there for me. You have no idea that you are my savior..."

The speech was then over, then Genna rushed towards Carlos to give him a hug.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't understand at first what was happening, but now I do. I'm given a new lease on life, all because of you."

From now on, think twice before you fail to help a fellow stranger.