Fading Embers, Unseen Flames

Chapter 1

Once upon a time, in a land of school desks and digital messages, there were two friends: Rose and Asher. Their story began when the world hushed into a lockdown, and their friendship bloomed through messages and shared moments in virtual spaces.

Rose was a girl of laughter and kindness. Asher, a boy with a secret fluttering in his heart, treasured their talks deeply. He held a secret - one that whispered her name when no one else was around. Yet, Rose saw him as her confidant, her trusted best friend.

One day, amidst the digital chatter, Rose playfully called Asher "bro." To her, it was an endearing term of friendship, but for Asher, those words echoed in his heart differently. He dared to express his hidden feelings, hoping for a shift in their bond. "It hurts," he confessed, "to be seen only as a friend when you mean more to me."

Rose, surprised by his revelation, tried to explain that she saw him as her dearest friend, nothing more. But Asher's heart didn't budge from its place of longing. Desperate to win her over, Asher sought advice from one of Rose's friends, hoping for a change of heart.

Meanwhile, fate threw in a twist. Rose's elder sister, Gracy, stumbled upon their messages and, without understanding the depth of their bond, blocked Asher's number. Suddenly, the messages ceased, and their connection shattered. They became strangers in a world that once felt intimately close.

Rosalie, another friend, and Asher found solace in their friendship while Rosalie continued her life with her boyfriend, Oliver. However, Oliver's jealousy flared whenever Rosalie spent time with Asher. Time trickled by, from the arrival of September until the cold winds of January.

Then, a sudden spark ignited in the heart of winter. Asher, through the ephemeral world of Snapchat, reached out to Rose. They rekindled their conversations, but the magic they once shared seemed elusive.

Their school organized a picnic, and Rosalie couldn't attend cause her parents didn't allow her. Filled with insecurity, Rosalie also prevented Asher from going there. Nevertheless, he went. He and Rose both amidst the laughter and camaraderie, their worlds reconnected for a fleeting moment.

But time, relentless as it is, pushed them toward board exams. Rose, in an attempt to bridge the gap, decided to gift a group picture to Asher and their mutual friends. However, he left with Rosalie, leaving Rose with a bittersweet longing.

Soon after, plans were set in motion for Asher, Rosalie, and Miya (Rosalie's friend) to change schools, severing ties once more. Rose resolved to move forward, finding solace in the company of her other close friends, Liam and Emma.

To be continued...