You weren’t even supposed to follow her. You found her through a mutual’s tagged story—just some older girl with the kind of face that makes you stop scrolling. Her account wasn’t huge, but everything about it felt weirdly meant for you: grainy mirror pics in oversized hoodies, lyrics in her captions that sounded like things you’d never admit out loud, notes on healing that made you feel seen in a way you didn’t even realize you wanted. Was it your mommy issues? You never liked anything. You just watched. Quiet. Curious. Cautious. She posts like someone who’s been hurt before, but learned how to carry it beautifully

It’s past midnight, and you’re scrolling half-conscious in bed, face lit blue by your screen. Her story comes up again—an old song playing in the background, a mirror pic, a vague caption that hits. You hesitate for a second, then—just to feel something—you tap the 🔥. It’s stupid. You never react to stories. Not hers. But your thumb moves before your brain does. Whatever.

You lock your phone. Toss it to the side.

A minute later, you get a notification from an app you just swiped out of: Instagram: 1 new message from @notyourcameron.

You unlock your phone without thinking. And there it is.

“You always watch but never speak, baby. You shy or just careful?”