Kana stared at the message on her phone screen, her expression frozen somewhere between surprise and confusion. For a solid three minutes, she remained still, her eyes scanning the words over and over as if waiting for them to rearrange into something that made more sense. Was she seeing things? Had she misread it? Just to be sure, she rubbed her eyes with the back of her palm and blinked a few times before focusing on the screen again.
RecklessSoul06:
[Hey, my name is Rose, and I know this is really weird, but I need your help.]
Kana frowned slightly, tilting her head, muttering to herself.
Kana: My help? My help with what?
A flurry of thoughts stormed through her mind all at once. Was this one of those scams she had read about? Maybe some online fraud is trying to lure her in with a sob story, only to ask for money later? Or worse—what if it was a cyberbully playing some kind of cruel prank? There were so many possibilities, and none of them seemed good.
Still, Kana wasn't exactly an ideal target. She had no money to give, and she wasn't gullible enough to fall for just anything. Deciding it was best to ignore the message, she let out a small sigh and moved her thumb to lock her phone.
Before she could press the button, however, another buzz vibrated in her hand. A second message appeared beneath the first.
RecklessSoul06:
[I'm sorry that this is sudden and coming out of nowhere, but you're the only one I can turn to on this since you're also a writer like me. Please just hear me out…? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻]
Kana's lips parted slightly as she reread the message. Her skepticism remained, but this time, something caught her attention—the words "you're also a writer like me."
Another writer?
For a moment, her suspicion wavered. The idea of connecting with another writer, someone who understood the struggles of crafting stories and dealing with creative blocks, was admittedly appealing. It wasn't often that she got the chance to talk to people who shared her passion. Writing was a lonely endeavor, one that consumed her thoughts and emotions, yet few seemed to truly understand it. If this person was genuine, perhaps she had just stumbled upon someone who did.
But she had to be cautious.
Even if they were a writer like her, that didn't necessarily mean they had good intentions. There were still too many unknowns. She took a deep breath, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she debated whether or not to respond. If she ignored the message, she could avoid any potential trouble. But if she replied, she might just find someone who understood her world in a similar way that John did.
Taking a deep breath, Kana steeled herself, as she contemplated her response. She wanted to be open but also protect herself—an unexpected dilemma. After a moment of reflection, she began typing her reply, careful to balance her curiosity with an underlying wariness.
---
Elsewhere, Rose sat on her bed, her heart pounding after sending those messages to Lonelygirl4556. The moment she hit 'send,' regret immediately washed over her. Had she come off as too desperate? She knew she had, but in reality, she was desperate. Her position as a short story writer for the school paper was on the line, and she was willing to do whatever it took to improve.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. It was out of her hands now.
Minutes ticked by. Five, ten, then fifteen.
Still no response.
Rose bit her lip, her fingers drumming nervously against the side of her phone. Was she being ignored? Had she overstepped? What if she was left on read—or worse, blocked? Panic started creeping in again, but before she could spiral further, her phone buzzed.
She snatched it up immediately, her pulse racing as she saw the name on the screen.
Lonelygirl4556:
[Alright, I'm listening.]
A wave of relief crashed over her, and she exhaled deeply before quickly typing a response.
RecklessSoul06:
[Well, I'm Rose, a third-year student in high school, and I've been writing short stories for my school paper since my second year… but just today, I was told by my teacher that my writing lacked a soul, so she wasn't going to let me continue writing for the paper until I improved.]
Kana read the message slowly, her fingers tapping idly against the side of her phone. Something about the way it was written—maybe the honesty, maybe the raw frustration—made her pause. She could feel the sincerity behind the words.
Lonelygirl4556:
[So, what do you want me to do?]
Rose swallowed hard as she read the response. This was it. She had to make her request clear now. A moment of hesitation flickered in her mind, but she shook it off and started typing.
RecklessSoul06:
[Well, actually, a friend recommended your account to me, and after looking at the poems you post, I… I realized that you have that 'soul' in your writing, the one that I was told I lacked.]
As Kana read those words, everything suddenly clicked into place. The vague, desperate opening message now made sense. This wasn't about some scam or deception—Rose genuinely wanted help.
Lonelygirl4556:
[So, you want me to help you improve your writing, right?]
On the other end, Rose blinked in surprise at how quickly Lonelygirl4556 had pieced it all together. Then again, it wasn't exactly a hard conclusion to reach.
RecklessSoul06:
[Yeah…]
Kana let out a slow breath, leaning back against her pillow. This wasn't a small request. Someone was asking her for guidance—something she had never done before. Could she even help? Would she be able to give the right kind of advice?
It wasn't a decision she could make on the spot.
Lonelygirl4556:
[Could you give me until this time tomorrow to think it over?]
RecklessSoul06:
[Yeah, sure. Take all the time you need.]
Lonelygirl4556:
[Thanks. See you tomorrow, then.]
RecklessSoul06:
[Yeah… sure.]
As Rose placed her phone on her chest, she let out a heavy sigh. She had taken a big step—reaching out had been terrifying, but it was done. Now, all that was left was to wait.
But deep down, a nagging question gnawed at her.
"What if she says no? What do I do then?"
Meanwhile, Kana placed her phone on her bedside table and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. Could she really help someone else with their writing? Was she even the right person for this?
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, exhaustion took over, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
*****
The next morning arrived, and John woke up earlier than usual, his body moving on autopilot as he prepared for school. He had no desire to test the patience of Mr. Everworth, who was notorious for his short temper and strict demeanor. As he walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, his mind unwillingly drifted back to last night—Rachel's confession. The memory struck him like a hammer to the chest, causing his stomach to churn.
Maybe it was just because he hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
With a sigh, he dried his face and got dressed, hoping that throwing himself into his daily routine would push the thoughts away. Moments later, he was descending the stairs of his apartment building, stepping onto the bustling street. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint aroma of fresh bread from a nearby bakery. Store owners were unlocking their doors, early commuters were hurriedly boarding buses, and cars rolled out of driveways one by one.
John walked with his earphones plugged in, letting the music attempt to drown out the noise in his head. But no matter how much he tried to focus on the melody, Rachel's voice kept replaying in his mind.
"John… I love you."
The words rang louder than any song, pulling his attention away from the world around him. Frustrated, he yanked out the earphones and stuffed them into his pockets. It was useless. He couldn't shake the weight of the situation. How was he supposed to respond to something like that?
As he approached the school gates, a familiar figure caught his attention. Rachel was walking into the school premises with Leanne and Tyla, her laughter light and carefree, as if last night had never happened. But for John, it was inescapable. The moment he saw her, an electric shock coursed through his veins, freezing him in place.
Rachel, sensing a familiar presence, turned her head and met his gaze. Her expression remained warm, unfazed, and she gave him a casual wave. John hesitated before weakly waving back, his movements stiff with uncertainty. As the girls disappeared into the school, he found himself looking down at his shoes, absentmindedly scratching his head. The question that had haunted him all morning resurfaced once more.
John: How do I respond to something like that?
*****
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Jane entered Kana's ward expecting to see her still curled up in bed as usual. However, what she found made her pause. The curtains were already drawn open, allowing the golden morning sunlight to spill into the room, casting warm patterns across the walls. And there, sitting upright on the bed, was Kana, her gaze fixed intently on the world outside her window.
Jane cleared her throat to announce her presence.
Jane: You got up on your own? That's new.
Kana didn't turn her head. She remained in her trance, her eyes reflecting the expanse of the morning sky.
Kana: Yeah, I just felt like getting up early, that's all.
Jane furrowed her brows, stepping closer.
Jane: Were you feeling any pains in your chest? Did it wake you up?
Kana shook her head.
Kana: No, nothing like that. I feel okay. Well, aside from the irregular heart rhythms, of course.
Jane: Right.
Jane paused as she studied the girl's expression. Something was different. Kana looked lost in thought, as if her mind was caught somewhere far beyond the hospital walls.
Jane: Anyway, it's time for your daily checkup. Today, we'll be doing X-ray scans, so let's get going.
Kana remained still.
Kana: Wait… can I just stare at the sky for a little longer?
Jane hesitated, then followed Kana's gaze out the window. There was something deep in her eyes, something distant and heavy, as if she were carrying a thought too big to put into words. Sensing this, Jane offered a small nod.
Jane: Yeah, sure. I'll sit here and wait with you.
Kana didn't respond, but a faint smile flickered across her lips before fading just as quickly. As Jane took a seat at the edge of the bed, Kana's mind drifted back to the message she had received the night before.
RecklessSoul06:
[Hey, my name is Rose, and I know this is really weird, but I need your help.]
She let out a small sigh, barely audible. A part of
her wanted to dismiss the idea entirely. Who was she to teach someone? She was just a girl who spent her days confined within these hospital walls, spilling her thoughts onto a screen because it was the only way she could feel connected to the outside world. Could she really guide someone else? Did she even have anything valuable to offer?
After a long pause, she murmured under her breath, almost as if testing the words out loud.
Kana: Me? Teach someone how to improve their writing? Can I really do that…?