The sun had started to lean gently toward the horizon as Julian stepped into his room after returning from college.
He threw his bag on the chair like he did every day, took off his jacket, then collapsed on the bed with a long sigh.
The air was still. The room was warm… and his eyes slowly began to close.
⸻
Inside the dream…
He was back in the same university courtyard.
The trees, the stone bench, the golden slant of sunlight, and the breeze rustling through autumn leaves.
But something felt strange…
The couple he'd seen that morning was there again, sitting on the bench.
She was laughing. He was gazing at her with calm eyes, gently brushing his fingers across her hand.
Then, suddenly… the scene shifted.
The girl disappeared.
And her face became… Julian's.
His body in the dream looked slimmer, softer.
His hair slightly longer, clothes lighter, and his expression peaceful in a way he'd never seen before.
Sitting beside him…
Adrian.
The same features as the photo on the website—those blue eyes, golden hair, and a smile that carried both kindness and quiet confidence.
They sat together, silently.
But it wasn't an awkward silence.
It was… comfortable.
As if words weren't needed.
Then, Adrian leaned closer and whispered:
"You look more real like this…"
And reached out… touching Julian's face softly.
In that moment—he woke up.
⸻
Awake
Julian sat up abruptly, like he'd been pulled from the depths of a dream by force.
His breathing was quick, his forehead damp with sweat, and his eyes scanned the room as if he didn't believe he was really awake.
– "What the hell…?"
He ran a hand through his slightly damp hair.
Got up from the bed and walked straight to his desk.
Opened his laptop.
The page loaded. The account still under the name Leila.
And the message… was still there.
Waiting for him.
Waiting for… Adrian.
He sat in silence.
Stared at the screen for a long time.
Then…
He began typing.
"Hi,
Thank you for your message. I didn't expect my words to reach anyone like that.
Sometimes I write just to speak… I'm not sure if I'm talking to the world, to myself, or just to the air.
But your message made me feel like I'm not invisible."
He paused.
Stared at that last word: invisible.
He wondered:
Did I mean myself? Or her?
Was I actually talking about me…?
Then he sighed, and continued:
"I don't believe you're in love with someone you've never seen.
But… who knows?
Maybe hearts know more than we think."
He hit send.
And sat still.
A moment passed.
Then he smiled gently… a smile he'd never seen on his face before.