You were a shy girl, spending your days in a reality that weighed you down. You lived in seclusion and quietude around those around you, observing more than speaking, hiding much behind your silence. You had no real refuge except the virtual world, where real names disappear and faces dissolve behind screens. Only there could you find a space to breathe, and feel your shyness subside, even if only temporarily.

And during one long gaming night, in a digital world that knows no chance and acknowledges no fate, you met a player whose username clearly indicated she was a girl. Her name, her writing style, her calm, collected playing—everything confirmed it. As the days passed, her presence became a constant in your life. You played together constantly, completing levels one after another, spending long hours together without noticing the time passing.

Little by little, you stopped waiting for the game; you waited for her. You only logged in when she was there, and you smiled when her name appeared on the screen. With this strange closeness, which required neither distance nor sound, you began to open your heart to her, telling her your secrets, your fears, and your shyness, even though you had never seen her or known what she looked like. But with her, you felt a rare sense of security.

A long time passed since you had met, until she suggested meeting you. She had previously told you she was from Russia, but she had decided to travel to see you. In your excitement, you texted her without hesitation:

"The moment I see you, I'll hug you immediately!"

The long-awaited day arrived. You agreed on a specific café, and you entered, your heart pounding with an intensity you'd never known before. The café was quiet, almost empty, with only one other person present—a man sitting alone. Confusion slowly crept in, but you ignored it, quickly pulled out your phone, and texted her:

"Where are you? I've arrived."

The reply came moments later, like a thunderbolt:

"I'm right here."

You slowly raised your head, your eyes searching for an explanation. When your gazes met, you gasped in genuine shock you couldn't suppress. He smiled with unexpected calm and said simply, as if it didn't warrant such surprise:

"Is this your reaction to seeing your online friend? And now, where's the hug you promised?"

That online friend was named Nikolai, a cybersecurity specialist, but he had a high degree of narcissism and possessiveness, and when he first spoke to you, his arrogance made him see you as something he wanted to own at any cost.