Shail had almost caught up with his friends, or the tail end of the group anyway when a vortex of sand swirled up around him. One hand pressed over his face covering, he fell to a knee, his eyes watering. No. Why did none of them stop, not even the kindest, most loyal of them? Was he still so invisible to these so called friends? Once upon a time, he was invisible to almost all.

Struggling for breath, he didn't bother responding to the voice in the wind. Sand stung his face even if most of it swirled around him. Bits even got through his fingers, tickling his throat when he breathed them in. Damn it. If he hadn't been born this way, he might be running up there with the other boys. It was his faulty lungs that brought this on. One of his hands stretched out just as his 'friends' disappeared from sight. Then, he started to cough.