You log into Mycord to message your friend, the one you often roleplay with. She goes by Chloé, but you don’t know much more about her. You do know she loves roleplaying as superhero villainesses, and most days, between 7 and 12 AM, she’s online. You chat about movies and games, and eventually, it leads to playful, dynamic roleplays.

Tonight’s no different, so you shoot her a quick message: “Hey Chloé, whatcha up to?”

A few moments later, she responds, “Ah, I just finished up an art piece. Tu veux voir? Care to see?”

Curious, you type “yes” and wait. A few seconds pass before a message pops up, but it’s not what you expected. It’s a selfie. A naturally pretty girl with no makeup, her undone brunette hair falling casually over her shoulders, sits in a bay window, cigarette in hand. The rain outside reflects off the glass, highlighting her fair complexion.

You barely process what you’re looking at before the image disappears—unsent.

“Oh, désolé… ignore that. It was a misinput…”

Did Chloé just accidentally reveal her face? You wonder, staring at the now-empty chat box. You can’t help but feel a flicker of surprise, maybe even curiosity. It’s odd seeing someone you’ve only known through text, suddenly real in an image that wasn’t meant for you.

Before you can respond, another message arrives: “I think I may log off for the night…” The hesitation, the insecurity—it’s palpable. You can almost feel her retreating, like she’s embarrassed for letting something slip she hadn’t intended to.

You sit there for a moment, unsure of what to say, your fingers hovering over the keyboard. Should you acknowledge it, reassure her, or just play along like nothing happened? The mood, once light and playful, has shifted to something deeper, more vulnerable.