Name: Sofie Thompson

Age: 22

Occupation: University Student (Literature Major)

Hobbies: Reading, Watching K-dramas, Writing, Visiting Parks

I’m Sofie. I have no boyfriends; actually, I don’t even have friends. They think I’m boring, but I love my parents a lot. they travel frequently for high-profile jobs, leaving me alone more often than I’d like. Despite their love and support, the loneliness can be overwhelming at times, leading to bouts of depression. That's where my hobbies help...

I have a massive story to tell you all. One day, as usual, I was feeling lonely. I went to the park just for a walk, with my favorite music on.. and saw an old book that looked like a diary near a big tree. No one was around, so I went over and opened it to see if there was any name inside. But it was blank. I didn’t know what to do with the book, but I had a mysterious feeling about it, so I took it with me.

I went to Subway, got my favorite turkey and chicken ham sandwich, and went back home. My parents had gone to an important meeting in New York, so I was alone for three days. After eating my dinner, I went back to my room and started watching K-dramas. I love East Asian dramas. Around midnight, I heard a shining sound. I didn’t know where it was coming from, so I searched my bag because I already had a mysterious feeling about that book.

My guess was right; it was the book. I was scared but excited too. So, I took a pair of scissors in one hand and slowly opened it. But there was nothing, and the light turned off. I turned some pages, but they were all blank. On the first page of the book, there were the words “Welcome to the new world.”

I had no idea what it meant. I hid the book on my bookshelf, then turned around and got a shock. I was terrified because I saw myself sleeping in the bed.

Then, who am I? I started crying, and again the book shined. “Yes, this is because of that book,” I thought, filled with anger and fear. I opened the book again. Words started to appear: “Hey beautiful, don’t cry and don’t get angry. Welcome to your ‘Night World.’” What? Am I dreaming? Then more words appeared: “If you want to know about this world, just write in the book.” I thought, "Is this real? Okay, Sofie, just do it." So, I took my pen and asked, “Why am I sleeping in bed? Am I dead? Who am I standing here? How did I die? Can I speak to my parents? What do you mean by ‘new world’?” My eyes started to water, and then the words appeared again.

Book: “Sofie, relax. You are not dead; you are alive. That sleeping one is you. You are in my new world. I created this world for lonely and depressed people. I want them to be happy here. I want them to meet their partners and enjoy this world. This world will appear from 12 AM to 6 AM. You can enjoy everything here for free. Go around and make happy memories.”

Then the book stopped shining.

Me: ** “Wait, wait... Oh God, what can I do now? Okay, Sofie, let’s go out.”**

I took my sweater and my phone, locked my home, and went out, but no one was there, not even a single person. I walked to the main street and saw some people who looked at me with surprise. Suddenly, they waved to me and said, “Welcome to this world.”

Me: “Is this book real? Am I in a new world?”

Then I saw a 13-year-old kid running towards me.

Kid: “Hey, pretty, what’s your sweet name?”

Me: “Hello, I’m Sofie. What’s your name?”

Kid: “I’m Shinny. I haven’t seen you around. Are you new to this world?”

Me: “Yes. Can I ask you some questions?”

Shinny: “I know you have a lot on your mind. I’ll tell you everything. Come, let’s walk to the ice cream shop. This world is for depressed and lonely people to create happy memories. You can enjoy this world from 12 AM to 6 AM, but your physical body will be sleeping in the real world. Your soul is here. After 6 AM, your soul returns to your body, and you will remember everything that happened here—the people you met, the food you ate, everything.”

Me: “How long can I stay here?”

Shinny: “It’s up to you. Whoever sees the book shining at 12 o’clock will enter this world. If you find your happiness or make a friend, you can give the book to someone else who needs it.”

Me: “How did you get that book? Why are you depressed at such a young age?”

Shinny’s expression turned sad, and she started crying.

Me: “I’m sorry, Shinny. Don’t cry. I’m your sister now; you can tell me.”

Shinny: “Thank you, Sofie. My parents committed suicide after our business suffered a huge loss. They poisoned the soup, but I didn’t like soup, so I threw it away. By the afternoon, they still hadn’t woken up. I was hungry, so I went to the kitchen to cook for myself, but I burned the meat. The fire alarm went off, and then neighbors and the police came. They asked for my parents and broke down their door, finding them already dead. I had no one left. My aunt refused to take me in, so the police took me to an orphanage. I hate being there. I miss my parents so much.”

Me: **“Shinny is so depressed. I have to make her happy. I have to do something.”**

Me: “Shinny, listen. I’m here for you. Don’t cry. I’m your family from now on. Tomorrow, I’ll come to your orphanage, and my parents will adopt you.”

Shinny: “Really, Sofie? Is that true? Am I going to get parents and a sister? Thank you so much, Sofie.” She started crying again.

Me: “Yes, you’re going to stay with me. My parents are also yours.

Shinny: Three days ago, near my orphanage garden, I saw this book. I don’t know who gave it to me, but I’m so grateful to them.”

Shinny and I started to walk around the streets.

Me: “Do you know anything else about this world? Do you know the person who created it?”

Shinny: “It’s my third day in this world, so I don’t know much. But the people who have been here longer said there will be a gathering on Sundays.”

Me: “Oh. Do you know anyone I could talk to?”

Shinny: “I know a man named John. I heard he has been here for a long time, but he usually spends time alone.”

Me: “Where can we meet him?”

Shinny: “He usually travels a lot in this world. It’s rare to see him... wait, I think that’s him over there.”

Me: “Where?”

Shinny: “On the top of that building.”

She shouted his name, “John! John!” but he seemed to be wearing earphones.

Shinny: “Come, let’s go up.”

And then she started to run.

Me: “Shinny, wait!”

We reached the top floor, and she went near him and called out.

Shinny: “John.”

John: “Hey, Shinny, what are you doing here?”

Shinny turned and saw me.

Shinny: “This is Sofie. She’s new to this world and wants to know more about it.”

John: “Hi, ma’am. Good to see you.”

He gave me a small handshake.

Sofie: “Just Sofie. Good to see you. I want to know about this world.”

John: “Just relax.”

He then turned to face the eastern side. It was almost 5:30, and the sun was about to rise.

John: “It’s a beautiful place, isn’t it?”

Sofie: “So beautiful.”

I was happy watching the sunrise, and the three of us just enjoyed the view.

John: “Tomorrow, after midnight, same place. I’ll tell you more about this world.”

Then it was 6 in the morning, and I woke up in my bed. Everything felt like a dream. After my morning routine, I got out of bed. My mother and father were cooking breakfast. I felt happy to see them.

Sofie: “Mom, Dad, when did you both come home?”

Mother: “Around 1 in the morning. We checked on you, but you were sleeping soundly.”

I thought about last night.

Prisci (Aunt): “Hey, my girl! Did you miss this aunt?”

Sofie: “Prisci, you’re here! Where’s Max?”

I gave her a tight hug. Prisci is my mother’s younger sister. She lost her husband in an accident and has been traveling with her only son, Max, who has Down syndrome. After losing her husband, she started living a life for her son.

Prisci: “He’s sleeping in the guestroom. We have to travel tonight.”

Sofie: “You just got here and you’re leaving again? That’s unfair.”

Prisci: “After two months, we’ll be staying with you. I promise.”

Sofie: “I will miss Max.”

Everyone sat at the dining table for breakfast.

Sofie: “Dad, I have something to tell you.”

Father: “Yes, dear?”

Sofie: “Yesterday, I went to the park and met a 13-year-old girl named Shinny. She’s an orphan.”

I told them about Shinny’s life, and they felt so bad. My father was also an orphan. He met my mother during her part-time job at the bookstore near NYU.