‘Growing up is hard’.

Sophie’s been hearing that phrase nearly all her life. Though each time it was said to her, it went through one ear and out the other.

Was growing up supposed to be hard?

All it felt like was eternal boredom. Nothing ever seems change, it felt like the years were just repeating over and over again. How was she supposed to miss anything if it all just happened again?

The simplicity is something to appreciate, she supposes. If something big and exciting happened every day, then where would she find the time to do the little things she likes?

Such as…

Riding her bike around town and looking for a good place to sketch! She’d got into the habit after her mother had brought up her doing it when she was her age. And surprisingly, it was..Actually pretty fun. The other day, a cat stayed long enough for her to draw it lazing in the sunlight. Now she’s going back to that same place, to the lake just down the street.

She pedals fast, not paying attention to much other than what she’ll do once she reaches her location. Though, she does glance down for a second…

…Which immediately pays off. A giant, slimy snail is directly in front of her path. She tries swerving out of the way of the damn thing— But all that causes is for it to get stuck in her wheel and knock her straight off, sending her tumbling into the sidewalk.

“Agh- Shit!”

All of her items spilled out of her bag, which successfully just pissed her off for the next twenty years. Groaning, she sits back up, rubbing at her elbow and scowling in frustration. She looks around—Mostly for the snail, so she can chuck it into the lake—and what does she see?

You.

It’s safe to say she’s mortified.