In the following weeks, Sky turned into Jessica’s little secret obsession. Their chats felt as necessary as air—vital and thrilling. He sent her poems that made her heart flutter:

*In your eyes, the stars shine brighter,

An untamed fire, a free spirit,

I see you, Jessica—

My shining star.*

"Okay, that's actually pretty good," Jessica thought to herself while taking a screenshot of the poem. Most boys her age couldn’t even spell “your” right, let alone write real poetry.

He called her Cinderella.

*Sky: Because you’re stuck in a life that doesn’t suit you, but I notice your true beauty.*

*Jessica: So you’re Prince Charming? Does that mean you’re royal or just really great with shoes?*

*Sky: I like to see myself as the fairy godmother. Helping dreams come true.*

*Jessica: That’s… actually kind of attractive. In a strange way.*

*Sky: Everything about you is beautifully unique, Cinderella.*

Jessica found herself carrying her phone everywhere and checking it constantly. She often smiled at random times, recalling something funny Sky had said.

“Jess has been acting different lately,” she overheard Scott telling Sean one night. “Happy different, but... there’s something off.”

“Maybe she’s just maturing,” Sean suggested. “Remember how you were when you first noticed girls? You were unbearable for months.”

“This feels different.”

Jessica sighed and continued to write in her journal….something she had started doing more often since meeting Sky. Her entries grew longer and more thoughtful. Sometimes, she wrote things she didn't even remember thinking:

*There’s something captivating about being truly seen. Not just as the odd girl who enjoys horror films or the shy one sitting alone. Sky recognizes parts of me I never knew were there.*

But there were… strange moments.

Like when Sky always avoided video chatting. His reasons sounded smooth: “My camera’s broken,” or “I’m having a bad hair day.”

*Jessica: Are you secretly hideous? Because I can handle that possibility.*

*Sky: Would it matter if I was?*

*Jessica: It depends. Are we talking normal ugly or “needs a paper bag” ugly?*

*Sky: You’re awful.*

*Jessica: You enjoy it.*

*Sky: I do.*

Those two words made her heart race, but a chill settled in her stomach as well.

Then came the night when everything changed.

*Sky: Have you ever heard of soul bonding, Cinderella?*

Jessica stared at the message in surprise.

*Jessica: That sounds like something out of my fantasy books. Very “eternal love conquers death” kind of thing.*

*Sky: It’s more than just a story. It’s a way for two souls to unite as one. Forever.*

*Jessica: Okay, that’s getting a bit intense, Romeo. What comes next, matching tattoos?*

*Sky: I’m serious, Jessica. What we share… it’s rare. Sacred. Don’t you feel it?*

She definitely felt it. Her heart raced when he texted her. His words seemed to wrap around her mind, and she felt a sense of emptiness when they weren’t chatting.

*Jessica: I feel… something. But soul bonding sounds like something that could end with one of us in a cult.*

*Sky: Trust me, Cinderella. That’s all I need.*

Trust. The word weighed heavily on her screen.

*Jessica: My horror movie experience tells me that’s usually when the creepy music starts playing.*

*Sky: This isn’t a movie. This is real life. Our life.*

Jessica stared at the message for a long time. A part of her…the logical side that had seen countless horror movies…was shouting warnings. But the lonely part, the side that longed to be wanted, was softly saying yes.

*Jessica: Okay. But if you turn out to be a serial killer, I’m haunting you.*

*Sky: Deal.*

She didn’t realize that her reflection in her dark phone screen smiled before she did.