As they both glanced at their phones and realized they had messaged each other at the exact same time, they couldn't help but smile. On the other end, Kana let out a soft, joyful laugh as she read John's message, her fingers hovering above her screen.
Gamerboy115:
[Hey…I'm sorry that I didn't text you last night.]
Lonelygirl4556:
[Where did you go…?! 😭😭😭]
Gamerboy115:
[Sorry again. I had a really complicated night.]
Lonelygirl4556:
[Oh really? Tell me all about it!😊]
John stared at her message for a moment, his fingers beginning to type out a reply. But midway through, he stopped. His mind drifted back to the night before—Rachel's confession echoing in his head. Her words, filled with vulnerability and emotion, had taken him by surprise. And now, as he sat with his phone in hand, he questioned whether it was something worth sharing with Kana.
Then, as if on cue, another memory rose to the surface—Kana's voice from months ago, trembling but honest:
"The reason I can't go outside is because I'm really sick… and it's only a matter of time before I die."
Those words hit him harder now than ever before. It reminded him of the delicate balance Kana lived with each day—how precious each moment was for her.
John looked down at the screen, the cursor blinking, waiting.
John: (to himself) This thing with Rachel… it's between me and her. Kana doesn't need more stress in her life. She already has enough to deal with.
He sighed quietly, deleting the words he had started writing. Then, after a pause, he began typing again—this time, a softer version of the truth.
Gamerboy115:
[The amusement park I used to go to as a kid reopened last night, so I went there with a couple of friends. It was fun, but I definitely ate way too much junk food.]
There was a beat of silence before Kana's reply came through.
Lonelygirl4556:
[Sounds like you have a lot of friends. I'm really glad you had fun.]
She smiled faintly to herself, imagining John laughing with friends, surrounded by lights and music. But then, her eyes drifted back to his earlier message. Something about it lingered in her thoughts. It didn't sit right.
Lonelygirl4556:
[But… that doesn't sound all that complicated.
John blinked, surprised by her observation. A short chuckle escaped him before he typed back.]
Gamerboy115:
[Oh… yeah, you're right. Poor choice of words. My bad. 💔]
Kana tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. She could tell there was more behind his words—something he wasn't saying. But rather than pressing him for answers, she let it go. She knew John would open up when he was ready.
Instead, she decided to shift the focus.
Lonelygirl4556:
[Anyways, I had a rather complicated night too…]
That piqued John's curiosity.
Gamerboy115:
[Oh yeah? Is it something you can talk about?]
There was a pause. Then her reply came through.
Lonelygirl4556:
[Yeah… but I'd rather switch to a voice call.]
John blinked, surprised by her sudden request.
Gamerboy115:
[You do?]
Lonelygirl4556:
[Well, it's something really important. I think it'd be better if we talked about it instead of typing, don't you think?]
John froze for a second, staring at her message. His heart fluttered with anticipation and a bit of nervousness. Then, a smile slowly spread across his face.
Gamerboy115:
[Yeah. You're right.]
Lonelygirl4556:
[Okay then…give me a sec.]
John didn't realize it at first, but as he reread Kana's last message, it hit him—those were his exact words. The same ones he had told her during their second conversation, way back in July. The realization made him stop for a second. He chuckled under his breath, surprised at how odd yet heartwarming it felt to have his own words thrown back at him like that. It wasn't sarcastic or mocking—it was sincere. Thoughtful. It was almost like she had memorized them.
She really listens, he thought.
A few seconds later, his phone began to vibrate—Kana was calling.
Before picking it up, John glanced around. The classroom was empty, just like he thought it would be. The afternoon sun poured in lazily through the large windows, painting golden rectangles across the wooden floor. Still, he stood up and paced near the doorway to make sure no one was heading toward the room. Once satisfied that he was truly alone, he slid back into a desk at the center of the room and answered the call.
Gamerboy115
>Hey
Lonelygirl4556
> Hey
Her voice came through softly, with a slight static in the background, but even through that, it carried warmth. A kind of gentle nervous energy.
Gamerboy115
> So what did you walk to talk about?
There was a beat of silence, then Kana let out a short laugh—light and almost disbelieving.
Lonelygirl4556
> You won't believe this… someone actually messaged me for writing advice.
John sat up straighter in his chair, intrigued.
Gamerboy115
> Really?
Lonelygirl4556
> Yeah! Her name's Rose. She said her teacher told her that her story lacked a 'soul.' Like, what does that even mean? And then she said she's been following my posts and thinks I can help her find one.
John couldn't help but smile. He could hear the amazement in Kana's voice—how this tiny moment, this simple message, had sparked something deep inside her.
Gamerboy115
> That's amazing, Kana. You're really… becoming something special to people. Just like you wanted right?
For a moment, there was silence on the other end. Then John heard a faint sound—the quiet rustling of Kana's fingers twisting a strand of her hair, a habit he'd come to recognize in her voice. It usually meant she was unsure or deep in thought.
Lonelygirl4556
> Yeah…
Her response was faint. Almost hollow.
Gamerboy115
> You don't sound like you mean it though. What's wrong?
There was a long pause before Kana finally sighed—one of those deep, heavy sighs that held more emotion than words ever could.
Lonelygirl4556
> Maybe it is a good thing she reached out to me. Maybe it means my wish is actually coming true, bit by bit. But… what if I mess it up? What if I can't help her the way she needs? What if I say the wrong thing and make her feel worse instead of better? (She paused, voice softening.) I don't know, John… I'm scared I'll let her down.
As John listened, he leaned back in his chair and looked out the window. The clouds drifted by slowly, casting moving shadows on the floor. He let Kana's words settle in his mind.
He remembered every little interaction they'd had over the past few months. The messages, the voice notes, the inside jokes, the sleepless nights they'd spent talking about life, dreams, regrets. He remembered watching her Twibbler page grow from a small, quiet corner of the internet into a gentle sanctuary—one filled with kindness, vulnerability, and truth.
And he thought about the way she always found the courage to share her story. Even when she was scared. Even when her hands trembled over the keyboard.
After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke.
Gamerboy115
> That's exactly why you can help her.
Kana blinked at the message, tilting her head slightly, puzzled.
Lonelygirl4556
> What do you mean?
John didn't hesitate.
Gamerboy115
> You said this Rose girl needed help putting 'soul' into her writing. But you already have that.
Lonelygirl4556
> What makes you think I have that?
Gamerboy115
> I mean… have you read the poems you post? Like, really read them? They're actually good. They resonate with people—me included. Why do you think you've gotten this many followers in just three months?
Kana's mind instantly flashed with memories. She remembered the first time she'd posted a poem that had truly meant something to her. The comments that trickled in, full of support and empathy. The first time her follower count hit around 400. Then 500. Then 1,000. She remembered lying in her hospital bed with a tearful smile, seeing people write things like "Your words helped me today." It was overwhelming—but in the best way.
Lonelygirl4556
> Because my poems have emotions behind them…
Gamerboy115
> Exactly, you don't fake it. You write what you feel—even when it hurts. That's what gives your words soul. It's what gave me hope when I read them.
There was a brief silence on Kana's end. Not because she didn't have anything to say, but because she was still processing what John had just told her. She sat there, still twisting her hair around her finger, letting his words settle like soft rainfall.
Gamerboy115
> You want to reach to people right?
Kana lowered her gaze. Outside her hospital window, birds chirped softly on a nearby tree, the sound carrying into her ward and mingling with the sterile hum of medical equipment. She sighed quietly, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Lonelygirl4556
> Yeah…That's all I ever wanted too. To be seen. Not as a patient. Or a girl stuck in a hospital. Just… me.
John smiled to himself. He could hear the vulnerability in her voice. And it made him care even more.
Gamerboy115
> Then this is your chance. A real opportunity to reach someone new—not just me. With the amazing things you post every day, Kana… you make it easy to see you.
Those words landed in Kana's chest like a soft explosion.
"You make it easy to see you."
Her heart skipped a beat, her fingers curled around her hair even tighter, and her cheeks flushed with a sudden wave of warmth that made her hide her face beneath her blanket.
She didn't even care that she was sick in that moment. Not when someone had just seen her that clearly.
Gamerboy115
> And if you're scared of saying the wrong thing… that's exactly why you should try. Reach out to her like you reached out to me. You're not supposed to have all the answers. You're not a miracle worker. But you care—and that's what matters. That's what people need most. Not perfection. Just someone who listens. Someone who understands, and maybe that's what Rose needs most right now.
Another pause. A gentle, lingering silence followed. John's words echoed softly through the phone like a lullaby.
Kana's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching as she felt the full weight of his words. Then, slowly but surely, a wide smile began to stretch across her face, her cheeks still burning. She bit her lip, unable to stop herself from blushing.
Lonelygirl4556
> You're sweet, you know that?
John's eyes widened. That caught him off guard.
Gamerboy115
> Well… I'm just… speaking the truth.
Kana could hear the nervous stammer in his voice and couldn't help but burst into a laugh—soft and melodic, like wind chimes swaying in the breeze.
John groaned and covered his face with his hand.
Gamerboy115:
> Don't laugh…
Lonelygirl4556:
> I'm not laughing at you. You're just… cute when you're flustered.
John's face turned red instantly. He turned toward the blackboard and stared at it like it held the secrets to the universe.
After her laughter died down, Kana's tone softened again.
Lonelygirl4556
> Thanks, John… really. You always say the right things. Like, exactly what I need to hear when I'm doubting myself.
John scratched the back of his head, his voice dropping to a near-whisper.
Gamerboy115
> Well… you always give me a reason to want to say nice things about you.
That line escaped his lips before he could stop it.
Silence.
Kana's eyes widened again, her mouth slightly agape. A deep blush crawled up her neck. And as the silence lingered, John realized what he'd just said.
His own face turned bright red.
But before either of them could properly respond…
RIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGG.
The school bell rang, loud and shrill, piercing the quiet. It signaled the end of lunch break. The hallways began to fill with the sound of footsteps, chatter, and backpack zippers.
Gamerboy115
> There goes the bell. I gotta get back to class.
Lonelygirl4556
> Yeah…I'll talk to you later.
Gamerboy115:
> Yeah, talk to you later.
They hung up at the exact same time, each smiling faintly at their phones as if the other were still there.
John sat back in his seat and immediately slouched forward, resting his head on the desk. A few students were starting to trickle into the room, so he covered his face with his arms to hide the remaining blush. His heart was still beating a little faster than normal.
On the other side of town, Kana lay back on her hospital bed, her phone pressed to her chest. Then she turned and buried her face in her pillow, letting out a high-pitched shriek—one of pure, childish joy. Her cheeks were still hot.
She repeated the words in her mind, over and over.
"You make it easy to see you, Kana."
"You're not a miracle worker. But you care—and that's what matters."
Another squeal escaped her lips as she giggled into her blanket. It had been so long since she'd felt this giddy. The way a child feels when someone finally notices the picture they drew or the story they wrote.
For a moment, her illness, her tubes, her hospital room—all of it disappeared. It was just her. Just Kana.
And in that stillness, both of them—miles apart—had the same quiet realization settle into their hearts.
"Why does talking to him/her feel like… breathing easier?"