The Pen Pal

Fifteen-year-old Pearl Willow Keys had just endured the first heartbreak of her life. Still struggling to move on, she tried to focus on her studies and was chosen for a pen pal program that allowed her to exchange letters with someone within her state. Hoping to boost her grades, she reluctantly accepted.

At first, the emails were simple-casual exchanges about schoolwork and hobbies. But slowly, Pearl began to feel more comfortable with her anonymous pen pal. Their conversations were easy, the kind that let her forget, if only for a moment, the shock and pain of her heartbreak. It felt safe to confide in someone who didn't know her, someone who wouldn't judge her for her pain.

The more emails they exchanged, the more Pearl felt like she was finally getting over her heartbreak. She finally felt at peace.

But sometimes, the universe could be strangely cruel...