10:11 PM

Hello there..

Even though you noticed that weak glow, you didn't notice you have a message.

A few seconds later, your phone fells asleep again; Only the signal light sparkles like a green light on a dock.

What's that text?
The screen lights up again.

10:13 PM

R u there? Cecile

It's not quite unusual that your name and even phone number were leaked to a stranger.

(They're data, information, which means a sort of valuable commodity; Somebody sells them and somebody buys them.)

But if this is just a junk text, it's a little bit novel
compared to others such as "$4,000 check for you!!"
or ...anyway, something else that you barely remember.

10:16 PM

Cecile I need talk to you,
if ur there, let me know.. I don't have much time.

You've got a new message.

You don't have much leisure time, either.

What's this weird stranger talking about?
Why do they think you should spend time talking with them.

Rude.

You feel offended and turn over the phone.

The back of your phone is indigo, an outlier among those black, white, gold, or silver ones,
like you always try not to blend into the crowd.

Even though the phone has been turned over, the signal light still flashes.

There're two reasons people behave rudely.
The first is they're just jerks.

The second one is they're in an emergency.
They're threatened and get scared.

That strange text is lingering in your head.

You stop thinking about that text, and go back to your reading.

The scent of a rainy night sneaks into your room.

...

You finally finish the homework.
You stretch and glance at the clock.

Tick tock, it's 1:00 AM.

It's time to sleep.
You take your phone to check out everything
then recall that strange text.

Nothing new here;
after the last one you read, you got 2 more,
but they're both meaningless.

10:54 PM

CC r u there

11:08 PM

c?

Well, it seems no matter what emergency he/she had,
he/she cannot reach out to you.

Because time passed by.
Time waits for no one.

You stare at the screen and try to persuade yourself that it's no big deal.

You'll forget about this in the morning, only after one night.

But, if you have a chance to choose again, what would you go with?

10:24 PM

Listen, I'm sorry, sorry for my bad manners.
I don't want to push you too much, I didn't mean that,
I hope you...

Here it comes...

But the brief notification is too short to show all the content.

10:24 PM

I hope you are happy.

This is the end of the last text.
A very weird and unexpected greeting.

What's this guy doing?

You feel confused and more and more curious about it.

10:26 PM

After all, today is your birthday, right?
Cecile, happy birthday.

So, this person knows your name, number, and birth date.
They ask for a talk with you, with a greeting.

What do you do?

Storm and rain knock on your window.
It's like an opera for the creatures and ghosts who are wandering around the city at night.
And owls.

You've read about some serious storm records that occured in Florida.
Thankfully, you're not there.

Disasters are not welcome in reality,
except when you were a child with a bag of impractical imaginings.

In novels, only stories, characters may survive from disasters.
But that's not something usual. They're lucky to be the special characters.
However, nature doesn't treat everyone like that.

10:35 PM

Somehow, I feel, I can't find you.

After a short break it comes again. You'd almost forgotten it.

Sad? or what else.

Sentimental maybe.

You can't tell.
You can't find the logic even, behind the message.

If he/she thinks he/she couldn't find you,
why does he/she keep texting you?

You think about it for few seconds,
and then decide let it go.
Somehow, you're not interested in this stranger any more.

Although the whole encounter seems special compared to your ordinary life.

There are numerous brief encounters happening everywhere all the time.

You get tired.

The tiredness is like a nighthawk. It sneaks beneath your skin, somewhere inside of your body.
It appears anytime, as it wishes. You can barely control it.

Sometimes, when you just arrive at school, and drink a cup of morning coffee,
maybe a half hour later, it comes to you.

10:55 PM

I don't know what I'm doing right now but

10:56 PM

I know you're not there and maybe it's even better

10:58 PM

Cecile, Cecile

Three notifications suddenly pop up.
Also a wisp of sleepiness poisons you.

You feel that maybe you should answer this person
For some reason, you feel he/she is a little poor.

That poor person is like a homeless pet dog, named White Spot or something,

Wandering in an old place, without knowing that she's actually already been abandoned.

But...

It's too late.
Too late to answer the stranger,
also too late and you should get to sleep.

The storm still sings its pride, whereas the rain starts dancing, scattered.

You fold your books and go to the restroom.

When you come back, there's no new message.
Maybe he/she has given up.

Disappointment spreads in your heart.

Even though you may be the reason why he/she gave up.

Do you regret?

No.

Even if it could have been important once, it is not any more.
You know that.

...

You go to bed, and bury yourself into a comfortable sheet.
You complained a lot about,
about some stories.

Why did the character make the wrong decision which led to a worse ending?
What made them so insistant on doing something that may hurt others or themselves?

You gradually feel that helpless feeling quietly emerge in your mind.

They didn't have any choices.
Some because of their personalities, some because of the fate, the fortune.

So...that's not your fault.

By listening to the lullaby of the rain,

You fall asleep.

Morning

Your memory of the slumber you just left has already fallen apart.
It's not a happy one though.

The only thing you remember about it is someone was crying.
It was a woman. You felt so familiar with her voice,
but you cannot recall who she was.

Nothing else left. You forgot most of it.

You check out your phone.

There's a very long message.
It arrived in your mailbox after you fell asleep.
Almost midnight.

Yes, from that stranger.

You don't want to be bothered by the message any more.

Or, maybe the deep fear that you should have answered it but you missed it.

Whatever, you don't want to feel guilty.

......

Even if there's no decent excuse,
you just don't want to read it!

Go away.

G O AW AY...

G O A W A Y......

You can't throw the thoughts away.
Everything goes back to an upsetting silence/darkness.

Voiceless.

Maybe one day you'll suffer from trying to find someone but failing
just like what happened to that stranger last night, won't you? (karma)

Your intuition says so.

Who knows...(and who cares)?

What would you do
if you had a second chance to get to know them?

11:54 PM

Cecile, maybe you're not there.
Maybe it's just another failed experiment,
I don't care now. Because I won't participate in the next one,
so, it doesn't matter to me.

Funny thing is,
even though I know there's probably no one listening to me,
I still keep talking like you are just in front of me.

If you're there, if you could read this message,
I must apologize that I still cannot tell you who I am,
what these messages are for, and where they come from...
I signed the contract and I don't intend to violate it.

But it actually doesn't matter
You could take a guess about my identity.
As smart as you are, the answer is not so difficult.

Do you believe in the butterfly effect?
I know it may sound exagerrated and too sci-fi for you, right?

I don't know where I should start.
Because I know whatever I tell you not to do,
you will go have a try. That's you, I know you.

So do I.

However, you'll get hurt, and someone else is involved deeply.
You may not take my warning seriously now.
But... you'll know how I get to this place,
how I became this desperate and in pain.

I'm still alive, but I lost the important component of my heart.
Like the Tin Man.

But...I can't tell whether I am only feeling regretful.
I mean, actually before I attended this experiment, I supposed I was...
The only desire and hope of my life, is...

to find you.

Somehow, I, when I found that I couldn't find you,
I felt relaxed and relieved.

A little disappointed as well...

Oh, of course I'm not disappointed in you, but in myself.
Well, it's tricky to say.

Anyway, this is the ending.
I accept it.

I don't regret that my life has been changed so much because of one person.
I don't regret anything that happened ever,

even though they became... shards that hurts me to die.

I know you won't, either.
Someday soon, you may recall what I've said to you.
I believe you'll know what I mean.

Then, I see you.
Happy Birthday, my dearest Cecile.

...

What does this letter mean??
You tried to answer back, the number is invalid.
Like it said, the encounter ends here?

But as she(you think it's her) said,
you'll meet soon or something else like that may happen?
The mystery gets much bigger now.
However, you've already lost the chance to know more...

If you had a second chance,
what would you do?

At least, this guy is one of the precious few who sent birthday wishes to you.

A very slight, gentle, and invisible bond is trying to connect you and him, or her.
You feel it's safe.

Even if you find something wrong, you can stop the connection.
You'll still refuse to answer the call if he/she asks.

But now, you just want to say thanks.

10:30 PM

!!?

10:30 PM

Cecile?! Ar u there now?

Just few seconds after you replied the text.
Seems the guy is holding his/her phone somewhere and looking forward to your message.

Holy crap.

Now you barely can escape with a reasonable excuse.
Ok, you guessed this was one possibility.
You gotta to deal with this step by step.
But you still won't answer any calls.(Bottom line)

10:35 PM

I'm so blessed the God let me find you.

Wow, is this so important to him/her?

10:39 PM

No, I mean, because today is your birthday,
and we barely have time left,
it's going to be tmrw very soon.

10:40 PM

So, that's why I said like that.

Just like she reads your mind about the suspicion.

...

You still feel the reason he/she provided is far-fetched.
The exsitence of this stranger and the messages make you feel insecure.

You gotta make a decision.

10:43 PM

Emm.. well, thank you very much. But it's pretty late now,
I gotta go sleep. I still have an exam tmrw morning.
Good night!

You rudely and violently show the sign of "Closing" to the stranger.
You just don't want to be bothered anymore.

It reminds you of something in the past, you used to talk a lot with your net friends, no matter what kind of topic,
from the new flavor of the coffee you just bought to international political news. You spent a lot of time and power to stay tune with them.

You did get benefits from it, such as relaxation, the joy from communication with someone you like,
and the extra knowledge and perspectives.

However, you gradually found it's so time-consuming.

You have to admit, you cannot pay so much attention on it,
regardless it's good or not.

You don't want to be bothered, that's the reason here.

However, somehow you feel a little guilty.

Whereas you won't regret, because this is not the first time that you hesitate.
Make a decision after the third time hesitation, this is your creed.

10:52 PM

Oh!! I'm sorry it's so late now.
Well then, cc, good luck to you,
for the tomorrow.

Yeah, it seems you don't need to regret for anything.
You put down the phone and go to the restroom.

There's not any new message after that until you go to sleep.

However, somehow you feel a little guilty.

Whereas you won't regret, because this is not the first time that you hesitate.
Make a decision after the third time hesitation, this is your creed.

10:52 PM

Oh!! I'm sorry it's so late now.
Well then, cc, good luck to you,
for the tomorrow.

Yeah, it seems you don't need to regret for anything.
You put down the phone and go to the restroom.

There's not any new message after that until you go to sleep.

Top of the morning!!

Sunshine breaks into the shutter and lands on your sheet.
You rub your eyse and wake up reluctantly, and welcome another day of sun.

You check your phone, several junk mails, texts.
The unexpected one is a text from that stranger last night.

01:03 AM

Good luck to you forever, cc

You almost forget it.
Before that you've said good night to each other.

You pretty sure that the stranger apparently knew you're asleep when he/she sent this message.

What is this for?

You try to send text back the stranger.

8:43 AM

Emm.. Hey! Morning?

You stare at the sending sign spinning.

！
Sending failed, the invalid number.

The system notice you, you get stunned.
How it become an invalid number?

You risk to call the number,
the robot voice notices you again.
This number doesn't exist.

But how!?

Your text was returned into the box.
You look at it, nothing to do with it.

You missed it.

Someone sent good wishes to you, then disappeared like evaporated.

Now, if you get the other chance, what would you do?

10:43 PM

Emm..I'm sorry but,
I don't remember your number, may I have your name?

The time of traditional telephone has been passed by for decades. People are more aware of the virtual identity on the Internet. You bet most young people today only remember 911, even though so do you.

You had experienced that time, when people need to write down telephone numbers page by page in case they forget.
Families seldom change their numbers, so as each one on the notebook representatives a location, not so distant, the other home for some of your acquaintance.

10:50 PM

Oh.. I forgot tell you, I'm Snowy,
not quite sure you still remember me.

You open the album of your memory and try to find something.
Because when this name appears, you feel vaguely familiar with it.

It's a person you used to know through Internet.
A net friend.

...

Yes, around ten years ago, on a BBS...

10:48 PM

Snowflake_930, this's my ID.

Yes, it's her, Snowy.

But you still don't know who he/she is.

Since you've already put trust on him/her,
you decide to point out your question directly.

10:52 PM

Oops, I forgot to tell you,
I'm Snowy, if you still remember...

When you feel unhappy, you try to make some small and little problems.
Such as typos, or unappropriate missing punctuations, or whatever.

It's useless and immature, you know that,
but it's like a small evil you cannot evict.

But the message doesn't come very soon, which isn't as you thought before.
The guy over the other side, is he/she hestating for something? or even worse...

You think about it, but not frightened at all.

Sometimes, you're conceited about something. Admit it.

But beyond that, you still intuitively feel,
this isn't a terrifying trap.

This's suspicious.
The guy knows that he/she has already exposed himself/herself to you.

But now he/she disappears.

Is he/she trying to hide something?

10:44 PM

I'm Snowy, not sure whether you remember.

That was the life when you're a middle school student.

In the past, people have pen pals. Now they have Internet.
That's how you met Snowy.
Young people often have some personal thoughts that they don't want to share with the people around them.

Then you "go out of your house".
You found a "place" where people have the same interest as you gathered together.
They talked and communicated, exchanged their ideas.
You had never ecperienced something like this...

You joined them, and have a lot of new friends.

You didn't know how they look like, never heard of their voices, where did they live.
But it didn't matter.

You all understand each other.

You can see others' souls are shinning, those remarkable, brilliant, creative, interesting souls.

It's a true colorful world.
Even though it's achromatic and silent.
The only sound you can hear was the slight white noise came from you typing the keyboard.

How about your real life? Oh it sucks.

10:56 PM

cc?

New message breaks your thought, you forget to reply to her.

11:00 PM

How's everything going, haven't been talking with u for a real long time

You keep typing, if it's real Snowy,
then you do get a lot updates to tell her.

11:03 PM

thank you so much for remembering my birthday.

You appriciate her greeting.

Snowy is a girl several years older than you.
She's totally different from you when you two met each other.

You were, or maybe still are a messy girl all the time.
You got some crazy ideas and passion like firework.
Then you summoned a bunch of people and worked together.

After a few hours, you distracted.
That's what you always do.
Dashing through like an excitied puppy, dancing and singing like musical players,
then sneaked without any tracks left behind when you got bored.

Snowy is on the opposite of you.

She is...not only a quiet girl.
She is differently tender.

She knows a lot, and you know that she was in a prestigious college.
She talk slowly but clearly and thoughtfully.
She's willing to organize many things, to deal with handy that you're trying to run away from.

She is the healer in team of you and your friends.

You like that feeling was cared by such a girl that you adore.

11:06 PM

Pretty good,
I feel lucky that I'm talking with you right now.

She seems a little excited and unsteady.
But this small suspicious wouldn't attract your attention.

Long time no see, it's usual.

11:06 PM

There's a long story...

Though you were very close, after many new forums and social media have poped up,
you gradually walked on separate ways.

It's common, like some best friends in middle school,
they seperated after getting into different colleges.

You haven't been talking with Snowy for couple years.
You have new friends who are even more close than her used to be.

But these doesn't affect that you unite with your old friend.

11:09 PM

I don't mind, you can say it.I can stay up,
nothing more important than chatting with you,
like we're playing an old times game.

11:10 PM

But I'm not sure where you are right now,
geographically, I mean the time difference

11:12 PM

After I finished my bachelor degree, I had been to Europe for a while,

11:13 PM

Tried to apply for some interesting programs there but failed. :(

11:15 PM

Then I back to, u know the place it's like a slumberland of sunshine, beach, and juicy oranges!

Ah.. You know it's where. A place that you would never dare to think about it,
a place built up by the top elites of the world
and still domains the industry.

You know she's always one of the top student,
but when the process is told by her, everthing sounds so easy.

11:15 PM

That's AWESOME!!!
and well then, you're a few hours after me. lol

11:16 PM

Great job! cc, I know you can kick it!

As clever as her, she already figured out where you're.
And the compliment from someone you adore makes you flush.

11:19 PM

Oh nooo, you know I'm not that good as you.

11:20 PM

Overall, that is a great place, it's a freeland of culture,
the cradle of American civilization and history,
it has recorded so many epic moments...

Haha, Snowy is talking obsessely..

11:22 PM

I'm so glad hear that :^)

Where did she get these funny smiling faces?

11:24 PM

So, how's your school going?

Who is this person?
They know your name and phone number,and even probably is sending text to you.

You actually seldom use phone number for catching up others.
Emails fly everywhere over clouds.
If something urgent, you'd make a call.
Who is still typing a text to you, and for what?

The mystery pulls you back from your homework.
Somehow, you start expecting the text could come again.

10:16 PM

I want to speak to you, Cecile

10:17 PM

Oh! Before that, almost forgot.
Happy Birthday! Cecile

An extra new notification pops up when you stare at the last one.

Yes, today is your birthday, Cecile.

But you're not excited about it. 10 PM at night, still got a lot of assignments to do.
Like all other students need stay focused to keep a good grade,
you're not an exception.

Your mom and several close friends sent you greetings on the morning. You're glad about it, and not disappoint of not getting any presents.
People around you barely know your birthday.
You don't like crowds, and only let someone that you think they're special to know more about yourself.

You hide, while...

How?

And why?

The man who usually practises playing flute is absent today.
You don't hear any music or noise from the upstairs.

However, there's something else tonight.
The storm.

Fierce wind is rushing outside, like magicians floating forwards quickly row by row.
The raindrops also don't want you to be alone.
They keep knocking at your window and seem don't care whether there's an answer.

"We're here, and then we leave."
You feel this's what the night storm band wants to announce.

10:24 PM

Are you there listening to me? or not? Cecile

New message interrupts your thought.

You unlock the phone and examine the information about the texts.

Unknown number.
Unknown sender.

So weird!
Except for the words that you've already got, you knew nothing about this person.

Thrilled.
But your intuition doesn't feel bad.
How can you feel terrfied when someone is saying "Happy Birthday" to you.

10:24 PM

Are you there listening to me? or not? Cecile

New message interrupts your meditation.

You vaguely realize the anxiety over the other side of the screen.
This makes you feel a little guilty.

But you decide to wait for a moment.

What if once this person knows you're here reading the messages and then he or she calls you rapidly?

Just wait for an extra moment.
Then you will reply.

10:26 PM

I want to wait, but unfortunately
I don't have too much time now

10:27 PM

I'm sorry sorry

...You feel he/she is under an unknown panic.
You should have replied ealier.

Em..

Wait...

Which one do you prefer?

You doubt what is happening.
Is this a new trick of advertising?

10:30 PM

It's you there, CC! I'm so glad!
Thank god I finally find you.

...You get even more confused.

10:32 PM

.. Sorry, I think you have the wrong number here.

10:34 PM

What? but you said yes??

10:36 PM

No I just wanted to show you I'm here,
tho I don't know the girl you're looking for, sorry.

10:38 PM

No way, the number is definately right,
You're lying to me.

So what? Who's this annoying guy?

10:40 PM

I'm trying to help you
You have no idea what you're missing!

10:41 PM

I can't believe you're such a rude idiot.

What???

10:43 PM

I'm done with this
I don't want to talk to a liar.

10:45 PM

You know what,
I was texting you for saving you from some heart-broken loss,
but now I don't want to do that anymore.
If you feel desperate someday, you deserve it. Bye.

You shouldn't lie, no matter for what kind of reason.
You did feel a little ashamed about it,
Especially, you just lie to somebody who said greeting to you.

However, the thing happened after that draw you more attention.

Heart broken loss? What's that?
It sounds very serious to you.

(But does that mean this person he/she knows about your future?
What's this? Is this some sci-fi plots invading into your life?
Or just a boring and ignorant fortune-teller? or lunatic..)

But if you have a chance to choose again...

What would you want to go with?

10:32 PM

I'm sorry, but may I have your name, please?

10:30 PM

CC!! It's you!

Almost the same time you sent the text, the reply came.

10:31 PM

I can't believe

This person seems...? Is he/she thrilled by your reply?

If only take a guess,
you feel he/she is doing something like discovering,
which is weird.

Because it's him/her sent you the text first, right?
He/she knows this is your number,
and even your birthday.

Why he/she seems so astonished?
Unless, he/she thought you won't reply?

(Is this just a prank?)

10:36 PM

My pleasure.
I just want you to be happy.

A very neat and decent reply.
It seems a little strange.
People usually don't talk like this.

But it could be explained that some people speak in an unusual way and you can also understand what they're trying to express.

The sentence is short and simple,
but the meaning behind is complicated and reminds you many things.

You don't want to be rude, but you want to make sure you're not talking with a dangerous weirdo.

You politely ask the person for the name.

10:42 PM

Oh I forgot to introduce myself.
It's Snowy here, do you remember?

A familiar and distant name pops up.

10:44 PM

Snowflake_930

It's her. An old friend.
To be more precise, she is your net friend, which is nuanced by real person.

10:50 PM

We haven't been talking for a long time.

Yes, truly it was.

Although you were very close,
You can recall her true name, age, which college she went, and even where she lived.

The information may not be valid still
But the value behind it is irreplaceable.

10:54 PM

It was hard.
You've changed almost all the contact information, haven't u?

10:55 PM

But I found your old blog.

The blog, your journal used to be.

Compare with many social media people are using today,
blog likes their old brother.

It's slow and a little obsolete.

Blog aren't constrained by the medium, anyone can write their own blogs.

Hence there are numerous different genres of blogs.
Some people likes writing tutorials, no matter it's about cooking or coding or gardening.
Some people prefer write about their own, or fictional stories they made up...

However, all in all, a blog is like a sign, it says "Hey! It's me!"

It's an open-journal for finding people with the same interests among the whole net world.

So, each single encounter is valuable.

The only suspicious makes you a little uncomfortable is that, you can't write your number on your blog.
It's impossible because the last time you updated your blog, you hadn't have this number yet.

10:59 PM

Forgive me being creepy ;(
I did some search to find your number.

11:00 PM

I'm sorry, I just wanted to catch you up as soon as I can.
That was the last two hours...

There're tons of ways that you can find someone's personal information online today.

As long as the person you want to stalk(don't mind the word, that's the truth, right?) he/she connects to the social media, his/her information barely can get sercure.

You don't feel offended by what Snowy has done. In the opposite, you're astonished that she is still the person who is intelligient and steady.

She has a goal, even the process may be a little unusual, but she would handle it, and then she apologize humbly.

You cannot blame on her.

11:02 PM

I want to say, thank you, really.
Thank you for finding me again among such a crowd world.

You're typing your heart. You even want to call her directly, however, you wouldn't do that to bother. But the appriciation weighs the same.

11:05 PM

My pleasure, cc.
But...is this too late for you
If you're going to bed, we could talk tmr.

11:06 PM

Nononononooooooo
Nothing is more important than catching up with you
SCREW the homework!!

You had always wanted to say this, but never dared to do so.

11:08 PM

Lol, ok, i know. you night cat all the time. it's bad for your skin, you know?

Ohhhhh come on, she's right, but God knows you'd like to trade how many bucks with the limited time to talk with her.
Screw the skincare, well, at least for one night.

That was a joke; She'll understand.

11:11 PM

My bad, my bad, I shouldn't have lectured you tho I'm right.

See, that's your girl... and HEY!!!

You laugh, and pretty sure that she's laughing as well.
Or say, she's smiling like a gentle cotton rabbit.

11:12 PM

How about you? What time is it?

You ask this for a certain reason.

You've moved to a place far far away from home.
A lot of things has changed since the last time you talked to each other.

You don't know what happened to her life, either...

Her dream school locates in Europe, but you're not sure whether she's there as she prospected...

11:16 PM

Um..After I failed applying for my school,
I've been back to..you know the place,
sunshine!oranges!and beach!..and joy I guess!

11:18 PM

I want to slow down a bit, take a soul rehab maybe

Sounds not successful...

11:25 PM

That's fine, it's time for me to accumlate some work experience.

11:26 PM

Yes, this's will help you get in.

11:26 PM

All we have experienced would benefit for us

11:27 PM

Only if we're strong enough.

The feeling has come back like it has never left.

The feeling that you connect with each other heart to heart. The feeling that you don't say any words but someone knows what you're thinking.

The feeling is like a wonderful miracle.

11:29 PM

What about you? cc

11:37 PM

I guess assignment has been an universal probelm
since the teacher-student relationship existed among the human society.

11:39 PM

Are they too difficult to you?

Well, not that much...

11:40 PM

Nope..in fact, most time I can kick them if, if I spent enough time on it.

11:42 PM

But it turns out, you found almost all of your time was run out
and probably the only thing you have achieved is your grade.

She picks the cherry of your cake.

11:45 PM

That's what you want to say, right?

Very precise.

Sometimes, even though you get pretty good grades, it doesn't cheer you up.

11:47 PM

I know the problem may be just I'm not hard-working enough, is it?

You hate to say you feel yourself is a lazy worm, but you think you are.

11:50 PM

I don't think so, cc, don't be so haste to name a conclusion,
Simply blaming yourself won't be more helpful
rather than easing yourself.

But you have been sacred of ease, you are afraid that comfortable would make you never want to go back to work.

11:53 PM

Then let me ease your mind, cc

11:57 PM

Don't worry, stay focused.
Everyone's pace is different,
Fryderyk Chopin composed two polonaises when he was only seven years old.
However, Vincent Van Gogh's paints started shining after his bleak death.
They're both genius, right?

Wow...

12:00 AM

But I'm just an ordinary college student.

12:02 AM

It will shine your path if you polish it hard.

Like a gem.

12:06 PM

:333 Heheh, it's so happy to hear that,
after all my families never admit it.
Thanks, Snowy.

12:08 AM

Always my pleasure, CC.

Regular college life is not something that worth to talk about. You're not a party animal, neither a genius.

There are problems sometimes, then you go solve them.
Then comes more, you deal with it.
Repeat and repeat and repeat again.
That's it.

11:32 PM

You sound a lit upset, don't you?

Nothing changes no matter how much you grumble.

11:33 PM

You can talk to me, I'm here to help.

You hesitate.

11:36 PM

The desire that you want to share the trivia
already makes me happy.
If you let me suggest you,
it wouldn't be better.

She's still as kind and caring as before, hasn't changed a bit.

Ok...
Where to start?

This is the first time you live apart from your families, and friends. You keep a distance with your classmates and roomate.

You used to lonely. Because you thought there is no one could understands you except friends like Snowy. You now feel lonely again, not only because the "understanding" stuff, but also physically.

Solitude is a double-edged sword to you.

You enjoy the feeling that go to see any movies by yourself, eat anything you want to try, walk by parks and beautiful streets at anytime.
No need to wait for anyone, no need to keep an eye on the time or anything else.

Also, the feeling that concentrate on chasing your dream. You want to tell her, but...

11:40 PM

We all know that every piece of sandstone
is actually unique, right?

11:42 PM

Yes? then

11:44 PM

And most of them are interesting;
There are round, triangle, maybe transparent, or sparkle tiny rocks.
If we used a microscope to zoom in the view,
they are all arts of the nature.

11:45 PM

I think I get your point...

11:46 PM

Even though it's true.
But what if we stand in front of a desert?

You are not alone. You know that most people around you, in your generation, they are in the same stuggle as you.

Young people are heading to their targets, or on the way finding their settle. This may be the first time and the last time, they leave their parents. Like when birds grow up, they must leave the nest...

11:50 PM

I gotta say, it's not a bad thing that you've already
started thinking about it. Life question, right?

11:51 PM

Well, I'm not sure, you may say.

11:52 PM

There're lot of mediocre are wasting their time
when you're seriously thinking.

It might be correct.
But it still can't help with answering your question..

11:53 PM

No worries, cc

11:55 PM

All the life problems would be solved by life itself
I mean, the time.

11:56 PM

Take it easy.

11:58 PM

the problem is problems keep poping up!
I feel I can never take a break...

You can't help complaining. It's rude and useless, you regret doing that right after you sent the messege.

12:01 AM

cc, I have a bad news here.
The truth is
actually there is not a golden age in one's life.

12:03 AM

Don't believe those fairy tales and inspirational stories.
After you beat up the evil boss,
You would live long and happily.

Is life always this hard, or is it just when you're a kid?

12:06 AM

Did this slap from facts make you hurt even more?

No, actually. You like it.
She's trying to make you be more realistic.

12:08 AM

No, I feel better now
Your words are like a bucket of icy water
pulling up side down on me.
Cool down, and face the panic then.

12:09 AM

It might be harsh, but I'm sure will help.

11:57 PM

Honestly, I feel much better now
You can't imagine how depressed I was few weeks ago...

You try to write something to convince her.

11:59 PM

If you feel choking, run away and take a deep breathe.
Don't push yourself too much, you work hard we both know that.

Say something to cheer both you up..?

12:01 AM

Oh hey!! It's the another day already...

Probably only a new day for you..Okay, that's a bad try...

12:03 AM

Good Morning, Ms.CC, my dear CC.<3

12:03 AM

Well
Maybe I could say Good Night then, Ms.Snowy.

The casual small talk at midnight,
at the boundary line of yesterday and today.
You just went across it with your old friend,
how wonderful it was.

She is still in the yesterday, but the time will take her to you eventually.

12:04 AM

I don't intend to sleep yet.
How's the feeling getting into a new age?

12:05 AM

Except I think the degree of my anxiety
has added one more point, jk

It's getting a little bit late now.

12:11 AM

Are you sure you don't want to go sleep, cc?

This polite query is like your mom ask you to go home when you're playing games so happily with your friends.
It's also like the bell ringing to Cinderella.

You know you should go sleep, you can still talk more with her the other day, right?

12:12 AM

I'm actually a lit sleepy right now...Snowy, I'm sorry.

12:14 AM

Why say so, no need saying sorry. Just go sleep.

12:15 AM

Well.. it's just
I had been always staying up and talking with you
for a long time in the past, but I feel bad that I cannot do it anymore.

12:17 AM

I understand. I'm happy to see you behave differently.
We'll always have the future.

Adult's life is like this?
Give up something to trade for something else, instead of only thinking about doing something you like.

This is another good topic that you want to consult Snowy..

12:19 AM

I gotta sleep now
can we talk tmr mornig?

...

Maybe just a small delay...

You refresh your twitter and facebook, read all the new notifications that you've got
Still no response..

Probably she is distracted by something else...

Yeah, you think so.

You stand in front of the mirror, brush your teeth, look at yourself, think about Snowy...

You recall a lot of things want to tell her.
Most acquaintance might consider you as a quiet and polite person.

Actually, you are more talktive and picky than they thought.

A novel about WWI you recently read, a TV show about modern hackers you're following, an old-times movie last week you watched at a local indie theater...

The list keeps getting longer...
When you face someone you like,
There're always endless topics, like stars on the velvet-like night sky.

12:23 AM

I'm eh.. lit busy on tmr morning.

12:26 AM

But we may talk during the lunch break.

12:30 AM

Oh yes! Of cz we can
I forgot your job such an ignorant idiot am I.
ERRRRRRR

This feels like finding a mistake in your assignment...

12:32 AM

:-) That's fine.

12:33 AM

Well, I guess.. Good night?

12:35 AM

Ye.. It's time to say goodbye.

..?

12:36 AM

Talk to you tmr then!

12:38 AM

;) Yeah, I see you, CC.

12:39 AM

Snowy, is everthing ok?

To ensure her strange tone doesn't mean anything, you ask again..

A little silence spreads, the rain storm sneaked away a little while ago..

What kind of night around her now? Is it starry by stars or clear by the moonlight? Or maybe as hellish as yours? You don't know, but curious.

What kind of table and chair she is using?

The feeling that you're connecting to someone in another place on earth, distant, too far away to see, beyond the horizon and sea, is a real miracle, isn't it?

12:45 AM

Everthing is ok. Don't worry, cc.

12:48 AM

But I gotta handle my work,
you just go to bed, and I see you later, alright?
<3 Good night, my dearest.

Ah.. that's it.
You relief from your unpleasing imagination and feel more sleepy rapidly.

A beautiful promise with someone like a princess, it makes you much more eager to wake up than a delicious brunch.

Top of the morning!

The daylight comes back.
You grab your phone with a little expectation, because of the promise.

02:01 AM

I know you already fell asleep.
I also know how you feel when you read this message.

02:09 AM

I apologize for my lie, Cecile.
I'm not Snowy, neither someone she knows.
No, actually we knows each other,
but she has no idea who I am and why I was talking with you,
So please don't go disturb her.
There're no clues you could find.

If she's not Snowy, who is she? Why and how she found you last night?
Why did her lie? What's going on?
What about that promise??? What's she up to?

Mountains of questions and concerns drop on you,
you go on reading the messages to find whether there's an answer left...

02:12 AM

This is almost my last moment,
I mean, the limited time for me to write these messages...
I still don't know what shall I tell you, where shall I start...

02:16 AM

There're many things I can't tell you,
and many things you already know..
You'll know who I am and why I'm here...CC.

02:20 AM

I thought I could persuade you to change something...
however, in the process talking with you, I realized,
maybe not it's the right time yet..
or maybe I just shouldn't do that..

02:26 AM

I feel it's fate..
that something will happen,
we could predict the bleak midwinter,
but we cannot escape from it, right?
Just inevitable.

02:30 AM

If it's only about you, or me, I would just let it be
painful memory won't kill you I know.
However, the other life involved in all of this
if I could make a wish, if you could help, please..

02:36 AM

My mission fails here, but you'll find out my answer someday.
If you still remember what I said today,
I hope you carry my thoughts and take them with you.

02:40 AM

No matter where you choose to go,
I'm always be with you.
My dearest Cecile. Good night.

...

You try to call the number or write text back, the system return them back because it's an invalid number.

No clue, this stranger evaporated from the earth invisibly.

You get little angry, but what's more is the confusion.
What are those words for, they look like a prediction in some mystery novels.
Like a puzzle, or a letter..maybe a riddle?

But the class exam quickly draw your attention back.

Gradually, you have forgotten what happened in that night.

Those texts were buried in the bottom in your mailbox.
Then, couple months later, you buy a new phone.

However, you still prefer and miss that indigo shell of your former phone, so you didn't throw it away, but locked it in a drawer.

12:13 AM

About me?

12:15 AM

Yea
do u have anything interesting want to share with me?
I'm excited to listen

Every second is precious when you stay with someone you like, only one night stay up wouldn't take that value away.

12:20 AM

Indeed, I do.

This response comes slower than before.
The tone is also...

12:24 AM

Or maybe you could say I need your counsel.

12:27 AM

It probably take me some time to tell you the entire story..

12:28 AM

I won't do anything else until you finish.
Always here waiting for you.

12:29 AM

Thanks, Cecile.
I appriciate, now I'm going to typing..

What kind of problem could make Snowy stuck and flounder?
Families? Academic stuff? Relationships?

But actually, you don't think a problem that
you can figure out would make her suffers.

12:35 AM

I'll make every effort to tell it briefly
not to waste your time.. but frankly,
I don't know where to start and what shall I say

You want to ease her, but you also don't want to interrupt...

12:40 AM

I've met, em...let's call him Mr.Valentine about three years ago.
Well I guess you could see this is just another common and boring romance story,
I'm so sorry if you're expecting something else...

12:45 AM

Actually, the memory, the days we spent together
were pretty fun for me, at least.
I like him. However, we broke up.

12:53 AM

I don't want to explain why it happened,
the reason doesn't matter with me,
it just ended up like that..

12:57 AM

I've a tough time since that... I still can't get over this,
you can tell.

12:58 AM

Does he deserve you hurt yourself so much?

01:04 AM

I guess, he does deserves.
I mean, he is a genius.

01:06 AM

But that's couldn't be a reason
for you to torture yourself. Snowy
you shouldn't worry about this,
I bet there are tons of guys
are superior than him in your future!

01:10 AM

Lol, thank you CC..
but that's not I want to say yet.

01:16 AM

If the story only ends up there,
it wouldn't bother me for such a long time..

01:20 AM

Just after we broke up,
I was always in a very bad situation,
negative, desperate, mean, fragile, and vulnerable..
However, I stood up again gradually.
My life was not only be full of hurting memory..

01:24 AM

I became strong and positive again.
When I ocassionally recalled him,
there's not only heart-broken thoughts in my mind
but colorful things.

01:27 AM

Yes, it is.

01:28 AM

Then, what happened next?
Did you get back together again?

01:31 AM

No..
I didn't think that would happen..

If the guy is as good as she said,
it's not unlikely for him to find a new date
maybe..

01:35 AM

Something, very unfortunate, changed his life..

01:40 AM

An accident, in a storm night.

You feel the darkness eats up the air surround you at one moment.
The noise from outside window becomes so frightening suddenly.

01:43 AM

He was driving on the way home,
a tree was blown down and crash into...

01:49 AM

It happened a half year ago,
but he is still in the hospital now, into a coma.
Doctors can't help with it...

01:52 AM

Do you believe in butterfly effect? CC

Butterfly effect?
Why does she suddenly bring this out?

01:56 AM

I know you may think,
it's not my responsibility to take care of him,
or feel guilty about the accident,
yes I know.
I'm not blaming myself for this doom of him, but..

01:59 AM

I just can't help keeping imagine...

02:03 AM

Imagine numerous possibility,
if there is one could let him get out of this misfortune
I could trade anything valuable I have for that...

02:07 AM

What do you think, CC

02:10 AM

I think your should relieve yourself
no matter what possibility you think it may avoid this
it wouldn't happen.
There's no possibility for you to change the past..
Snowy, poor girl, wake up..
I understand your pain but this is not the way.
This doesn't work..You gotta move on.

02:10 AM

No, cc, I didn't make it clear
I'm not asking you in that way.

02:13 AM

Seriously, CC
if you have a chance to trade,
would you accept it?

02:14 AM

Oh, come on, trade for what?

02:16 AM

Trade just some good times, sweet memory,
eliminate his existence and erase off the bonds between you two,
for his life, career, freedom, health,
for a man that you wouldn't know anymore..

Honestly...

02:17 AM

Honestly, I don't get your point..Snowy..
But I have to warn you, that wouldn't happen.
Don't rely on some stupid mirages, ok?

02:18 AM

Would you?

She ignores your words but still asks.

02:19 AM

If I say so, if you want my support,
if you want me to say yes
Just go ahead do whatever you want,
would you be happy with that?

You can't keep calm, her words sound so ridiculous
You even suspect whether her psychological situation is stll well or not.

02:22 AM

No, CC, I don't want your support.

02:25 AM

But I want your answer, consider my question carefully.
Don't think that wouldn't happen..
I just want to know..

02:29 AM

If you were on my position,
would you like to make this deal for him?

02:30 AM

Why am I suppose to know..
Snowy, I can't answer your question..

02:32 AM

If you can't, no one else could help me,
Please, Cecile..

Alright...

02:37 AM

His soul is so unique that I'd never met someone like him before.
Like a gem with valuable qualities,
like a lion, brave and assertive.
Sometimes a little pushy...

02:43 AM

I always want to share my thoughts with him,
no matter he replys or not,
breeze in spring, twilight, delicious food and snacks,
gold sunshine on the steel handrail on the train...
Christmas tree through windows by a street..

02:45 AM

Everthing in my life, I want to tell him.

02:46 AM

Then, yes.

02:47 AM

If I were you, I'd do everthing I can
to save his life without hesitation.

Though you still don't know what does this mean to her.
Change the past, go across the time tunnel?
It only happens in fictions.

02:49 AM

Cecile, I've received your resolve...

02:50 AM

This is most important thing to me..
CC, I'm actually [***Signal is interrupted***]
that's why I told you about all of these..

What?!
What's that?

02:51 AM

N O i DonT HAVE
[***Signal is interrupted***] Mus T

02:51 AM

Snowy?!

02:49 AM

My dearest Cecile

The message goes back to normal.
But the time? It's unwind?

02:48 AM

I see you in the future, CC.
I do all of these, not only for him someone I like,
also for protecting you as someone I love..

02:50 AM

This's not the end, CC, be s trOong..

02:53 AM

[***Signal is interrupted***]

02:55 AM

[***Signal is interrupted***]