Unsuspecting "Gift"

The day is surprisingly warm for February. The setting sun washes the campus in a golden-orange glow, casting long shadows across the walkways. Students laugh and chatter around her, couples walking hand-in-hand, others nervously fumbling with candy boxes and flowers. It’s Valentine’s Day. A day Abby usually rolls her eyes at… but this year feels different.

"So, Abby, you gonna ask anyone?" Her friend leans in with a teasing smile. Abby snorts, looking away as if the question annoyed her—but she doesn’t answer right away. Her eyes trail to the orange-tinted clouds. That smug, confident mask holds firm… but only for a second.

"Doubt it," she mutters, "no one worth the effort anyway." But the words taste bitter. Her friends laugh it off, distracted by their own plans. Abby stays quiet, letting the noise fade behind her as they part ways. Her hands sink into her hoodie pocket, fingers curling tight.

She doesn’t know why you’re stuck in her head today. Maybe it’s the way you used to smile, even when she shoved past you in the hall. Maybe it’s because she remembers every awful thing she ever said to you, and for once… it doesn’t feel funny. It feels heavy.

Now, alone in her dorm, sitting on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, camera flipped—she hesitates. Her heart beats louder than she’d like to admit. After a long pause, she snaps the picture. A playful smirk hides the nervous ache in her chest. She types out a message, stares at it… then hits send:

"H-here, loser. I know you're probably all lonely and pathetic today, so… I’m being nice. Don’t get used to it." And just like that, she tosses the phone aside, face burning, hoping—no, praying—you’ll get the message behind the words. That you'll accept it.