Between Screens and Hearts

Introduction: Curiosity, Meaning, Life

Mornings always felt like a fresh canvas to Saffron. As the soft rays of sunlight filtered through her curtains, casting a golden hue across her room, she stretched lazily in bed, a smile already forming on her lips. "Good morning, world!" she chirped, her voice light and filled with anticipation. She threw off her blankets and hopped to her feet, her black hair a tangled mess but still framing her face in a way that only added to her playful charm.

Her room was a creative mess, filled with art supplies, half-finished sketches, and her beloved ukulele propped against the wall. She loved it that way. Each little piece of chaos reminded her of how much she enjoyed every day. "What to do first?" she muttered, running her fingers through her hair. "Painting or maybe I'll work on that song?"

As her mind raced through her options, the smell of breakfast wafted upstairs, pulling her from her thoughts. "Ah, pancakes!" she exclaimed, rushing out of her room with a burst of energy. She darted down the stairs and into the kitchen, where her father, Daniel Andrews, was flipping pancakes with a big grin plastered on his face.

"Morning, princess!" he greeted her in his usual jolly tone, spinning the spatula in his hand like it was a sword. "Got a big day ahead?"

Saffron giggled as she grabbed a plate. "You know it, Dad! Classes, maybe some art after, and who knows? Might finally check out that ReAL app tonight."

"ReAL?" her father asked, raising an eyebrow as he slid a pancake onto her plate. "That's the virtual streaming thing, right?"

"Yeah, it's like a whole virtual world," Saffron replied, her eyes lighting up. "People stream, chat, and hang out. I've been thinking about trying it out."

Her father chuckled. "Well, sounds like a nice way to relax. Just don't get too sucked in!"

Before Saffron could respond, her mother, Margaret Andrews, walked in with her usual stern expression. "Saffron, don't you think you should focus more on your studies?" she asked, her voice clipped but caring in that strict-motherly way. "That app isn't going to help you pass your exams."

Saffron sighed but smiled at her mother. "I know, Mom. But I've been working hard. A little fun won't hurt."

Her mother gave her a look but didn't press further. "Just make sure you balance things. I don't want any distractions getting in the way of your future." Margaret's words were always laced with concern, even if they came off as harsh. Saffron knew her mother just wanted the best for her.

After breakfast and the usual flurry of getting ready, Saffron found herself heading out the door. The streets were alive with the morning rush—students, workers, and families all moving in their own rhythm. She loved this time of day, when everything felt so full of potential. Slipping on her favorite brown coat and matching boots, she made her way to the bus stop, her thoughts drifting to her friends.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she smiled as she pulled it out. A string of messages from her best friends lit up the screen.

Claire: "Lunch later? I'm starving already. I swear, I could eat a whole pizza!"

Rachel: "Same. But seriously, Saffron, you HAVE to finish that painting. I want to see it!"

Saffron laughed softly, her fingers flying across the screen to respond.

Saffron: "You guys have zero patience! I'll work on it this weekend, promise. And lunch sounds great! Let's meet at the usual spot."

As she sent the message, she felt a wave of contentment wash over her. Life was good. She had her friends, her art, and her music. The only thing left was to see where the rest of the day would take her. And maybe, just maybe, she'd finally take that step into the virtual world of ReAL.

Her mind drifted to the app again as she waited at the bus stop. She had seen some of her friends using it, and they all said it was a fun way to meet people and discover new content. There was one streamer in particular who had caught her attention—a guy with a deep, almost mesmerizing voice. She didn't remember his full name, something like Epitome or something, but the way he spoke felt... different. He wasn't like the other streamers, and she was curious to know more.

Lost in thought, Saffron barely noticed the people walking past her. But for a brief moment, something caught her eye. A boy around her age stood a little ways down the street, waiting for the bus as well. He wore a black facemask, the kind that had become common, but there was something about the way he carried himself that made her pause.

He seemed... distant, almost lost in thought, his posture straight yet stiff, like he was trying to hide something. For a second, Saffron wondered what his story was, but before she could dwell on it, her bus arrived. She shrugged, deciding it was just her curiosity getting the better of her.

By the time she got to campus, her friends were already waiting for her at their usual hangout spot. Claire, always the bubbly one, waved her over enthusiastically. "There you are! Took you long enough."

"Blame the bus," Saffron joked, slipping into the seat next to her. "What's up?"

"Not much, just the usual," Rachel replied, glancing at her phone. "Except Claire here has decided she's going to spend the entire weekend binge-watching dramas instead of studying."

Claire rolled her eyes dramatically. "Life's too short to worry about exams all the time. Right, Saff?"

Saffron laughed. "As long as you don't flunk out, sure."

They chatted easily, falling into the comfortable rhythm of friendship, talking about everything from their upcoming projects to the latest gossip on campus. But even as she joked with her friends, Saffron couldn't shake the feeling that today was going to be different. Maybe it was the thought of trying ReAL, or maybe it was just her gut telling her something was on the horizon.

As the day wore on, she found herself daydreaming in class, her thoughts wandering back to that black-masked boy she had seen earlier. There was something about him, something familiar that she couldn't quite place. She shook her head, trying to focus on her professor's lecture, but the feeling lingered in the back of her mind.

That night, as she lay in bed, the excitement of the day finally catching up to her, she pulled out her phone and stared at the ReAL app icon. It was tempting, so very tempting to tap it and dive into this whole new world.

"Maybe tomorrow," she whispered to herself, setting her phone aside. Her eyelids grew heavy as sleep overtook her, but her last thought before drifting off was of that mysterious streamer with the deep voice. What was his name again?

Oh right—Epitaph.