Rose's heart raced as she hesitated over the glowing screen of her phone, her thumb hovering above the keyboard. She had never shared this story with anyone before. It was a piece of her past she had buried deep within herself, a memory so tainted with fear and confusion that she had tried to forget it. But tonight, something urged her to share it with Mikey. Maybe it was the trust that had grown between them, or perhaps it was the need to unburden herself from the secret she had carried for so long. Whatever the reason, she decided it was time to let someone in.
"Mikey, can I tell you something? It's about something that happened a long time ago, but it still haunts me sometimes."
Mikey responded almost instantly, his message a comforting reassurance. "Of course, Rose. You can tell me anything. I'm here for you."
Taking a deep breath, Rose began to type, her fingers trembling slightly as she recounted the events that had unfolded when she was just a seventh-grader.
"It all started when I was in the 7th grade," she wrote. "There was this boy who lived nearby. He was older than me by a couple of years, and I had a huge crush on him. I never told him how I felt, though. I was too shy, and besides, he was always surrounded by girls—girls who were prettier, more confident, and closer to his age. I knew he would never notice someone like me, so I kept my feelings to myself."
Rose paused, memories flooding back with vivid clarity. She could still remember the way her heart had fluttered whenever she caught a glimpse of him, the way she would blush just thinking about him. It had been innocent, a young girl's first crush, but it had meant the world to her at the time.
"I would watch him from afar," she continued. "He lived just a few houses away from mine, so I'd often see him when I was out in the neighborhood. Sometimes, I'd catch him playing cricket with his friends or just hanging out by the corner shop. Those were the moments I lived for, even if he never knew I existed. It sounds silly now, but back then, just seeing him was enough to make me happy."
Mikey's reply was gentle, understanding. "It's not silly, Rose. We've all had crushes like that when we were younger. It's completely normal."
Encouraged by Mikey's response, Rose delved deeper into her story. "But there was something else, something that made it hard for me to just enjoy my feelings for him. You see, I wasn't the only one who liked him. He was popular, and a lot of girls in my class knew about him too. They talked about him a lot, and not always in a nice way. Some of them even called him a 'playboy' because he had so many girlfriends. I didn't believe it, though. I thought they were just jealous."
She paused, remembering the bitterness she had felt towards those girls. They had been cruel, making fun of her crush behind his back, and it had angered her in ways she didn't understand at the time.
"One day, a few of the girls in my class found out that I liked him. I don't even know how they knew, but once they did, they started making fun of me too. They would say things like, 'Why do you like him? He's just a playboy. He'll never care about you.' I tried to ignore them, but their words hurt. They made me feel small, like I was stupid for liking him."
Mikey's response was immediate, his words filled with empathy. "That must have been really hard for you, Rose. Kids can be so mean sometimes."
"It was," Rose admitted. "But what happened next was worse. One day, during lunch break, I overheard a group of girls talking about him again. They were saying all sorts of horrible things, calling him names and making fun of him for having so many girlfriends. I don't know what came over me, but I snapped. I was so angry, so hurt by their words, that I marched over to them and...I slapped one of the girls."
Rose hesitated, the memory of that moment still fresh in her mind. She could still feel the sting of her hand against the girl's cheek, the shock that had rippled through the group as they realized what had happened.
"I was so angry," Rose continued, her fingers shaking slightly as she typed. "I didn't even think. I just reacted. The girl I slapped was the one who had been saying the worst things, and I couldn't take it anymore. But as soon as I did it, I knew I had made a mistake."
Mikey's reply was a mix of surprise and concern. "Wow, Rose. That must have taken a lot of guts, but I can imagine it didn't end well."
"It didn't," Rose confirmed. "The girl was furious. She grabbed my arm and pulled me aside, away from the other girls. She was so mad that I could see it in her eyes. She looked at me and said, 'How dare you slap me! I'm going to tell him that you've been spreading rumors about him, that you're telling everyone he's your boyfriend.'"
Rose could still remember the fear that had gripped her at that moment. The girl's threat had terrified her. She hadn't been spreading any rumors, but she knew how things worked in school. Rumors didn't need to be true to spread like wildfire, and once they did, there was no stopping them.
"I was so scared," Rose confessed. "I didn't know what to do. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was spreading lies about him. I was just a kid, and I didn't know how to handle it. That's when I decided to ask for help."
Mikey's response was patient, giving Rose the space she needed to tell her story. "Who did you ask for help?"
"There was this boy who was always hanging out with my crush," Rose explained. "He was his friend, or at least I thought he was. I figured he could help me talk to him, maybe explain what had happened before things got out of hand. So, I found his number and called him."
Rose's fingers trembled as she typed out the next part of the story. She had never told anyone about what happened next, not even Momo. It was a memory she had tried to erase, but it had haunted her in the quiet moments when she was alone, replaying in her mind like a bad dream.
"He seemed really nice at first," Rose continued. "When I told him what had happened, he listened and said he would talk to my crush for me. I was so relieved. I thought everything was going to be okay. The next day, when I was on my terrace, he called me over. He was my neighbor, so I didn't think anything of it. I just went over to his house, thinking he was going to tell me what my crush had said."
Rose paused, her heart pounding in her chest as she recalled the details of that day. She had been so naïve, so trusting. She hadn't realized the danger she was walking into.
"When I got to his house, he was alone," Rose typed, her breath quickening. "I didn't think anything of it at the time, but now I realize how stupid I was. I went inside, and he closed the door behind me. Then he asked me if I really liked my crush, and I said yes. I was so hopeful, thinking that maybe he was going to tell me that my crush liked me back or something. But then...he made a move."
Mikey's reply was instant, filled with concern. "What do you mean? What did he do?"
Rose's hands shook as she typed the next part of her story, her emotions raw and exposed. "He tried to kiss me. He leaned in and told me that if I wanted to know what my crush had said, I had to kiss him first. I was so scared, Mikey. I didn't know what to do. He was bigger than me, stronger, and I felt trapped. I remember just standing there, frozen, as he got closer."
She stopped, her breath hitching as the memory washed over her. She could still feel the cold sweat that had broken out on her skin, the way her heart had pounded in her chest, the panic that had surged through her.
"But then something snapped inside me," she continued, her words coming faster now. "I realized I couldn't let him do that to me. So, I pushed him away as hard as I could. He stumbled back, surprised, and that gave me just enough time to run out of the house. I didn't stop running until I was back in my own home, and even then, I was shaking all over."
Mikey's response was filled with shock and anger on her behalf. "Rose, that's horrible! I'm so sorry that happened to you. Are you okay? Did you ever tell anyone?"
Rose wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. "No, I never told anyone. I was too scared and too ashamed. I thought it was my fault, that maybe I had done something to lead him on. But now, looking back, I know it wasn't my fault. I was just a kid, and he took advantage of that. I've tried to move on, but sometimes, the memory still haunts me."
Mikey's reply was gentle
This content may violate our usage policies.
Did we get it wrong? Please tell us by giving this response a thumbs down.
You said:
CONTIIINUE
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
Mikey's reply was gentle but firm, his words carrying a weight of concern and understanding. "Rose, none of that was your fault. You were put in a terrible situation, and you did the right thing by getting out of there. I'm really sorry you had to go through that, especially at such a young age."
Rose felt a mixture of relief and vulnerability. She had never expected Mikey to react with such empathy and support. In her mind, she had replayed this scenario countless times, always imagining judgment or disbelief from anyone she might tell. But Mikey's reaction was different. It was understanding, even protective.
"I've tried to forget it," Rose continued, her thoughts spilling out through her fingertips. "But there are times when I can't help but think about it. Sometimes, when I'm alone, I remember how scared I was, how helpless I felt. I wonder if it's something I'll ever be able to fully let go of."
Mikey took a moment before responding, and when he did, his message was thoughtful. "I can't pretend to know exactly how you feel, Rose, but I think it's important to remember that you're stronger than you realize. You were strong enough to get out of that situation, and you're strong enough to confront the memories now. Talking about it is a big step. It's not something you should have to carry alone."
Rose stared at the screen, Mikey's words resonating deeply within her. She had never thought of herself as strong. If anything, she had always seen herself as weak for not telling anyone, for not standing up for herself in the way she thought she should have. But Mikey's words made her reconsider. Maybe, just maybe, there was strength in surviving, in pushing forward despite the weight of what had happened.
"Thank you, Mikey," Rose typed, her fingers moving more steadily now. "I've never told anyone about this before. I was scared that people would think it was my fault or that I was overreacting. But talking to you about it...it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
Mikey's response was immediate, and Rose could almost imagine him sitting on the other side of the screen, his face serious but kind. "You're not alone, Rose. And you don't have to be. I'm really glad you trusted me enough to share this with me. If you ever need to talk more about it, I'm here. And remember, none of what happened defines you. You're so much more than that."
Rose smiled softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. Mikey's words were like a balm to her soul, soothing the parts of her that had been wounded for so long. She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear those words until now.
For a moment, neither of them said anything, both letting the weight of the conversation settle. Then, Mikey broke the silence with a lighter, more playful message.
"Now that I know you were a little badass who slapped someone in the 7th grade, I have to say, I'm impressed! Who knew you had such a fiery side?"
Rose laughed, the sound coming out more freely than it had in a while. "I was just a kid with a crush and a lot of emotions. But yeah, I guess I had my moments."
The conversation flowed more easily after that, with Mikey making a few more light-hearted comments to lift the mood. Rose found herself smiling more and more, the darkness of her past momentarily forgotten as they bantered back and forth. It was as if a door had been opened between them, one that allowed Rose to see a side of Mikey she hadn't noticed before—a side that was kind, protective, and genuinely caring.
As the night wore on, Rose felt a sense of calm settle over her. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone with her memories. Mikey had taken a piece of her burden, and in doing so, had shown her that she didn't have to carry it all by herself. It was a small comfort, but it was enough to help her breathe a little easier.
Before they said goodnight, Mikey sent one last message. "Rose, you've been through a lot, and it's okay to take your time to heal. Just remember, you're not alone. I'm here for you, no matter what."
Rose's heart swelled with gratitude. She had started the conversation feeling vulnerable and scared, but now, she felt a strange sense of peace. She knew that the road to fully healing would be long, but with Mikey by her side, it didn't seem as daunting anymore.
"Thank you, Mikey," she replied softly, her fingers lingering over the keyboard. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Rose. Sleep well."
As Rose put down her phone, she lay back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room was quiet, but her mind was not. She replayed the events of the night, the conversation with Mikey, the memories she had dredged up, and the unexpected comfort she had found in his words.
For the first time in years, the memory of what had happened didn't feel as sharp, as painful. It was still there, still a part of her, but it was no longer the heavy, suffocating secret it had once been. Sharing it with Mikey had been terrifying, but it had also been freeing.
As she drifted off to sleep, Rose felt a warmth in her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time. It was the warmth of knowing that someone cared, that someone understood. And that, she realized, was the first step toward healing.
The memory of her past would always be a part of her, but now, with Mikey by her side, she felt stronger—strong enough to face whatever lay ahead.