The next day, I was feeling oddly unmotivated. I stared at the blackboard during lecture but I didn’t take down anything. I didn’t even discreetly play on my phone. I was on autopilot most of the day. I found myself sitting alone at the end of an empty hallway, absent-mindedly drumming my fingers on the file case on my lap. It was lunch break but there were still classes on my floor, which was why the hallway was empty. I just pulled out my earphones and played some sad music, in an attempt to fill the void I’m feeling in my heart.

Two songs had already passed but I didn’t really listen to them. As I stared at the file case on my lap, I immediately, I noticed a pair of feet walk towards me, stopping only a couple of feet away. I looked up and saw a guy, looking down, as if wanting to talk to me. I removed my earphones and asked him if he needed something. He remained silent. He just stood there, looking at me. When I met his eyes, I found myself floating in space after a blink of an eye. In front of me was a familiar blackness, staring at me in the eye. I felt… devoid of life. The loneliness was overwhelming. There was no life but me at that specific point in space and time. There was no life… no sound… no air… no light. I felt my heart skip a beat and I could only think that I was going to be alone forever. I felt tears fall down my cheek and I found myself sitting at the end of the empty hallway, the guy still standing in front of me.

I wiped my tears and averted my gaze. I caught something he was holding in his hand and I felt a sense of panic overcame me. I stood and approached him, shaking his shoulders, asking if he was okay. He exhaled a breath he realized he was holding and he looked like he just snapped out of a trance. He looked up at me, confused. Slowly, a flood of emotion filled his eyes and he finally spoke.

“P-Please, help me,” he pleaded, his eyes glossy with tears.

“Oh, gods,” I sighed with relief and hugged him, "You scared me!"

He hugged me back tightly and I felt his heart beat against my chest. It was strong and fast but I could tell he felt a weight removed from his shoulders. He pulled away from me and exhaled another sigh of relief. I leaned against the wall, sliding down until I reached the floor. I gestured for the guy to sit next to me. He did so and I turned to him. I reached for the pill bottle he was still holding tightly in his hand and he loosened his grip, allowing me to take it from him. I gave him a grateful nod and set the bottle aside.

“Will you tell me what’s bothering you?” I asked him gently, “I’ll listen… If that’s all you need, I will hear you out.”

He looked down at his hands. For a few minutes, we sat there. I listened as he talked about what he was thinking. He would look at me constantly, and I would tell him my own experience. I always saw a familiar glint of hope in his eyes whenever I tell my story. The talk we had was all he needed and, frankly, all I could offer at the moment. In the end, he managed a weak chuckle.

“It’s nice to talk to someone who really understands,” he turned to me, “Thank you.”

I smiled. “Anytime.”

I checked the time. I still had a few minutes to spare. I grabbed my earphones and played music. I held out one end out to him.

“Care to share the moment?” I offered.

He smiled and nodded. He grabbed the other pod and we both enjoyed the sad song, just staring at the empty hallway until the song ended. No matter how brief our conversation was, judging by the smile he had, I knew we both treasured it. It was a memory like no other.

The school bell rang and people started coming out of classrooms. We stood and fixed our stuff.

“I forgot to ask your name,” I told him before he could say goodbye.

“Kaiden,” he answered, fixing his backpack strap on his shoulder.

“I’m Isabella,” I quickly grabbed my notebook from my bag, tore a small piece of it, and wrote my phone number. I handed the sheet to him, “If you need someone to talk to, just text me or call me,” I smiled sheepishly, “I don’t usually take calls but I’d make an exception for a friend in need of a listening ear.”

He took the piece of paper and smiled the brightest smile I’ve seen in a while.

“I’ll see you!” he waved as he turned and walked past the people gathered in the hallway.

I paused on my spot. My mind flashed back on my dream once more. I stared at Kaiden as the people he walked past slowly obstructed my view of him.

“O-okay…” I mumbled, pressing my file case against my chest with both my hands, feeling my heart suddenly hammering on my chest as I looked back at that dream yesterday.

I was walking towards my now empty classroom when Laura called out to me. Our classrooms were neighbors at this time of the day.

“Who was the mystery man?” she asked me.

I chuckled. “He’s just a friend who needed a listening ear, that’s all.”

She laughed. “I see. Did you even know him?”

“Not until he talked to me,” I shrugged, “Is there something wrong with that?”

“Do you know why he approached you if he didn’t know you?”

“I guess I’m just the first person he saw.”

She stared at me, skeptic. "I know you believe in fate, Isabella but... don't you think it was too, I don't know, weird?"

A grin quickly formed on my lips. "Not if you believe in fate."

The school bell rang once more. Laura rolled her eyes and waved goodbye as she ran to her classroom. I saw the professor approaching so I rushed to my seat at the right corner of the back row, near the window. I know it was a typical spot for main characters but putting that aside; I loved looking out the window, especially when it’s raining or foggy outside. Seriously, though, who doesn’t like window seats? Also, I’m not always by the window, I just chose that seat when the professor allows us to pick our own places.

After class, I exited the classroom and walked past everyone.

“Isabella!” a classmate called out, “Just a sec!”

I halted and turned toward the one who called out to me. It was the class representative for our Biology Club.

“You forgot your letter for the internship next month.” he handed me a folded letter and a copy of the schedule. “Make sure you know which professor you’re assigned to. I know you don’t know all of the professors in our department.”

“I will,” I chuckled. “Thanks, Eric.”

He gave me a thumbs-up and chased another classmate. I spun on my heel and went on my way. While walking, I opened the letter and read it. I forgot we were supposed to have an internship next month. It’s a pain to be a grad student, am I right? It’s a good thing we finished the thesis last semester.

As I read the letter, my eyes fixed at the phrase “… must be giving an hour of lecture…”.

“Darn it!” I muttered to myself, “I have to speak in front of a whole class for an hour?!”

The thought of that gave me chills. As you may already expect, I hate public speaking. Once I got to the apartment, I received a message from my parents.

“How’s our future doctor?”

That message alone managed to drain every bit of energy in my body. I turned off my phone and lethargically walked to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and went to bed, easily drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

I heard my phone ring and I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling for a brief moment. I sighed and lazily reached for my phone. When I opened it, I saw an unknown number.

Hi. It said.

My phone rang once more. This is Kaiden, by the way

I shot up from my bed and started typing. Hey! Hi!

Thanks for earlier today. I thought I was really going to lose it.

It’s the best I can offer. I smiled as I typed. Besides, who said two damaged people can’t help each other, right?