Kira blushed in response to Casey’s kind words, and her face lit up with a shy smile. The generous compliments clearly caught the teenage girl by surprise, interrupting her self-doubting and dark thoughts with something brighter, like the sun breaking through storm clouds. To Casey and Karina, it became clear that the girl wasn’t used to being complimented, or perhaps treated this kindly at all, by anyone other than her loving older brother who sat with a proud grin on his face as Kira dipped her head to hide colouring cheeks.<br/><span style="color: #FF80FF">“Thanks!”</span>Kira sincerely thanked Casey, his words meant more to her than he could imagine. A warm and fuzzy feeling settled itself in Kira’s heart, banishing the self-doubts and uncertainty that plagued her only moments before - at least for now.<span style="color: #FF80FF">“And I will try to be…”</span>