The Quiet Hours

The apartment was silent, save for the low hum of the old laptop on her desk. The screen’s soft glow painted Luna’s face in blue light, casting shadows beneath her eyes and highlighting the curve of her tired smile.

She didn’t know how long they’d been talking—time had slipped by in a haze of teasing messages, odd questions, and a lot of weird coincidences. It was strange. This felt easy. Familiar. Like they’d met before in a dream or a past life.

The cursor blinked in the corner of the chat box, waiting.

She tugged the sleeves of her hoodie over her fingers and typed slowly.

Luna: So… what do you even do all day?

A beat passed.

Luna: You don’t seem like the type to sit still.

Then came the response, fast and confident.

Cj_Offline: You’d be right.

She laughed quietly, a soft chuckle echoing in her quiet apartment. Her head leaned into her hand as she stared at the screen, lips twitching upward.

It was late. So late at night.

The kind of late where even the stars outside looked tired. The buzz of hovercars had faded. No kids screaming in the hallway. No neighbor yelling through thin walls. Just silence.

Cj_Offline: You have a nice way of talking.

She tilted her head.

Luna: Nice? That’s boring. Say something better.

Cj_Offline: You talk like someone who laughs with their whole chest… but doesn’t do it often.

Her fingers froze over the keys.

That felt... weirdly accurate. A little too close for comfort.

She stared for a second, then replied:

Luna: That’s dramatic.

Luna: But maybe true.

Silence stretched between them. No new message. No reply.

Luna: You’re not bad at this, y’know.

Cj_Offline: What?

Luna: Talking. Being here.

Cj_Offline: You make it easy.

Her chest tightened.

Outside, the wind whispered against the glass. The lights of the city flickered like distant stars. It was that perfect quiet—the kind that felt like it was wrapping itself around her shoulders.

She glanced at the corner of the screen. 2:04 a.m.

Shit.

She should sleep. But she didn’t want to.

Luna: I should go soon.

Cj_Offline: Why?

Luna: Because if I don’t, I might never stop.

There it was. Truth. Simple and raw.

She hesitated… then added one last line.

Luna: Goodnight. For real this time.

But she didn’t close the laptop.

She just stared at the screen, at his name: Cj_Offline.

The chat box stayed open, flickering softly.