Author's Preface
Several more days passed.
Winter mornings came and went quietly.
The apartment settled into its familiar rhythm.
Some mornings were spent with books spread across the table.
Others disappeared beneath ordinary chores before Luna realized how late it had become.
The sunlight lingered a little longer by the window.
It was one of those quiet afternoons when her phone vibrated.
A group chat.
The conversation had already wandered far ahead before she opened it.
Someone had shared a meme.
Laughing emojis followed.
Then—
"anyone started the assignment yet"
"lol no"
"we have till when again"
"bro it's due FRIDAY"
More laughing emojis.
A photo of half-finished notes appeared, followed by someone complaining they'd forgotten entirely.
Someone dropped a song link.
"this is so good rn"
"nah the acoustic version is better"
A short argument followed. Then, just as suddenly, it dropped.
"wait did you hear"
"hear what"
"that senior. the quiet one"
"?"
"apparently they're dating now"
A boy joined in.
"wait for real?"
"you only just found out??"
More laughing emojis.
Luna read through the messages. A faint smile appeared every now and then.
Another notification appeared.
"luna's awfully quiet today"
Before she could type anything—
"leave our innocent soul alone"
"we're probably boring her"
A few more laughing emojis followed.
Luna looked at the keyboard for a moment before typing.
"I'm just reading."
Almost immediately—
"she lives"
"there she is"
"we thought we'd lost you"
Luna sent one last laughing emoji.
The conversation rolled on without her.
She locked her phone.
She got up, walked to the kitchen, and filled the kettle.
When it whistled, she poured hot water into two cups and carried one into the living room.
Her mother looked up from the television.
"For me?"
Luna nodded.
"It's still hot."
Her mother smiled.
"Thank you."
Luna smiled back and sat beside her for a while.
Neither of them said very much.
The television played softly in the background, and the afternoon carried on outside the window, unremarkable and warm.