Realistic or Modern Sincerely, Yours

[Hazel_]

In the bustling rhythm of college life, where every heartbeat seems to echo with the urgency of deadlines and the weight of expectations, Lily found herself lost in the labyrinth of her own ambitions. With the determination of a marathon runner, she had plunged headfirst into her second year, her path illuminated by the flickering glow of textbooks and the sterile fluorescence of the lab.

Premed was her calling, her North Star in the constellation of dreams. Lily was no stranger to hard work; her days were woven with the intricate threads of study sessions, lab experiments, and endless stacks of notes. But beneath the surface of her unwavering dedication, there lingered a shadow—a ghost from the past that cast its pall over her every endeavor.

Blaze. The name itself conjured memories of a love once bright, now dimmed by betrayal. In the jagged shards of heartbreak, Lily had lost herself, the shards embedding deep within her, a constant ache that pulsed with each beat of her weary heart. The wounds inflicted by his infidelity were slow to heal, leaving behind scars that whispered doubt and insecurity in the silence of the night.

In the aftermath of their tumultuous breakup, Lily had sought solace in the sanctuary of solitude. Her sanctuary became her cell, the walls closing in with each passing day, suffocating her with the weight of unshed tears and unanswered questions. She became a recluse, a prisoner of her own making, barricading herself behind the fortress of her ambitions and the facade of indifference.

But today was different. Today, a faint glimmer of defiance stirred within her, a spark of rebellion against the monotony of her self-imposed exile. Today, she dared to venture beyond the confines of her comfort zone, to break free from the shackles of her past and embrace the unknown.

With hesitant steps and a heart heavy with trepidation, Lily found herself drawn to a quaint little cafe nestled amidst the chaos of the city—a beacon of warmth and familiarity amidst the cold indifference of the world. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted her like an old friend, enveloping her in its comforting embrace as she stepped through the threshold into the cozy interior, not expecting too meet a pair of familiar eyes.

 

[Malacina]

Devon Pasillico
Location: Cafe, off campus
Company: Majors (NPC) > Lil
Wearing: Long sleeve under armor and leggings under a dark grey tee and black shorts.

Someone behind the counter calls out his name and Devon jumps as if he wasn't expecting it, as if this was some novel experience. It’s not. He frequents coffee shops more often than their actual employees. Now Devon does like coffee and will argue to the end of time that he does, in fact, need it to live, but that’s not what attracts him to the shops. There is a certain sense of magic to cafes, Devon thinks, constructed out of all the small glimpses of strangers' lives that pass in and out. Moments he can relate to, and moments he never would experience if not for a stranger passing by:

A group of students trying not to fail their current classes with textbooks and notes spread across the table that remind Devon of his own abandoned school work back home. A girl grabbing drinks on her way to join her boyfriend who she’s talking to on the phone with while asking about his day with a smile that makes Devon wish them luck. A new mother hums a song Devon doesn’t know to her child as she waits for her much-needed order. There’s a very human quality to it all that Devon craves, craves more than he could ever want caffeine.

That need to be surrounded by life is also the same reason he wanders between cafes - going to whichever shop his feet take him to that day - allowing him to see what each place has to offer both in drinks and clientele. Today, though, he’s led as much by his feet as by his friend and teammate, Kieran Majors, after their morning run throughout the neighborhoods near campus. The small cafe they’ve settle on isn’t busy, but there is a sense of life to it that is built by an aroma of coffee, tea, and flowers settled in the shade.

​

Devon makes his way to the counter grabbing his drink before returning to Majors’ side, looking up at him. It still throws Devon off when he actually has to look up at someone since he's rather a tall guy, but Majors is one of the few players on the soccer team who is well over six foot. “Oh, man,” Major’s face lights up as something ticks his memory, “how was your date last night?” Devon should have expected the question to come up sometime today, but in all honesty, the moment the date ended, it hadn’t crossed Devon’s mind again.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Devon shrugs, “Fine.” And it had been, thinking back now. The girl had been friendly enough, and while she didn’t seem impressed with his studies she had let him hold her hand on the way back to the bus stop. He won’t see her again though. At least not on the other side of the table from him on a night out just the two of them.

Majors looks him up and down, humming, “you gotta lower your standards, man.” Devon chuckles, running a hand through his hair. It’s damp at his temples and behind his ears from their run. His standards aren’t the issue, at least he doesn't thinks so. Before Devon has to come up with anything in response though Major’s drink is ready and he’s off to get his coffee. When he returns, he has to head off - he’s meeting up with his own girlfriend before classes. Devon waves him off, not ready to leave the nice cafe just yet. He wants to come back here later in the week, he thinks momentarily, find what time of day it gets busy.

Taking a seat, Devon enjoys his drink for a minute before he has to head out himself. The date had been nice, but just like all the previous ones he’s been set up with or encouraged to go on this semester, there won’t be a second one. He’s not opposed to dating and he genuinely enjoys getting to know new people, but finding someone in that manner isn’t his priority. His friends enjoy setting him up, invested for some reason in his love life. Well, he thinks with a small smile as he swirls his drink watching the liquid turn and turn, he can stand to be bothered here and there as long as they're having a good time.

With a shake of his head, Devon picks up his drink as he heads for the door. Just as he makes it to the door it opens and a ghost from his past stands in front of him. Devon grins before he can think, “Oh, hey Lils!” He greets forgetting for a moment, only a moment, that she doesn’t really talk to him anymore. Then all at once he remembers, quickly lowering the hand he put up in offer of a wave, and realizes he’s in her way. “Oh sorry. Here, let me get out of your way.” And he steps backwards even when he doesn't want to, further into the shop and out of the doorway, not quite taking his eyes off of her as if looking away fully will prove she really is a ghost, a figment of his imagination, a wishful memory and nothing more.

He can’t help himself because he means it when he says, “Hope you’re doing well.” Just in case he doesn’t get to say anything else to his old friend.

 

[Hazel_]

Lily stood in the doorway, momentarily paralyzed by the unexpected sight of Devon. Time seemed to slow down as memories, both fond and painful, rushed to the forefront of her mind. She hadn't anticipated running into him here, in a place that once held so many shared moments and conversations between them.

Devon's grin, though brief, was like a bittersweet echo of the past—a time when they were inseparable friends, navigating the complexities of life together. His greeting, "Oh, hey Lils!" was so casual, as if they had seen each other just yesterday. For a moment, Lily felt a surge of warmth, a flicker of the old connection that had once bound them.

But reality crashed in soon after. She saw his hand raised in a friendly gesture, a reflex from their days of easy camaraderie. Then, just as quickly, he withdrew it, a recognition of the distance that had grown between them. "Oh sorry. Here, let me get out of your way," Devon's voice was polite, tinged with a hint of regret. He stepped back into the café, creating a physical space between them that mirrored the emotional chasm Lily had felt.

Lily took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. Her eyes met his briefly, searching his face for any trace of what they once had—a shared understanding, inside jokes, or the comfort of being known. She managed a faint smile, though her heart felt heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

"I... I'm good, Devon," Lily replied softly, her voice catching slightly. "I hope you're doing well too." It was a simple response, laced with sincerity and a touch of melancholy. She wanted to say more—to ask how he had been, to reminisce about their shared experiences, to express the ache of missing him in her life—but the words remained trapped inside.

As Devon nodded, his expression reflecting a mix of emotions she couldn't quite decipher, Lily felt a pang of sadness. The café seemed suddenly too small, too suffocating with the weight of their unspoken history. She glanced away, her gaze falling to the floor for a moment before she looked back up at him.

"Take care, Devon," Lily murmured softly, her farewell carrying a weight of finality that neither of them had anticipated. With that, she stepped aside, allowing him to pass through the doorway. She watched him for a moment longer, his tall figure disappearing into the sunlight outside, before she turned and made her way out into the bustling street.

The cool air outside offered a brief respite from the emotional turmoil swirling inside her. Lily took a moment to collect herself, her mind replaying their brief encounter over and over. She wondered if there would ever be a chance to mend what had been broken between them, to rebuild the bridge that had once connected their hearts.

But for now, all she could do was cherish the fleeting moment they had shared in the café doorway—their eyes meeting across a divide that seemed both insurmountable and fragile. And as she walked away, she couldn't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, their paths would cross again someday, under different circumstances, with hearts perhaps more ready to reconcile than they were today.

 

[Malacina]

Devon Pasillico
Location: Cafe, off campus > Library, on campus
Company: Lil > NPC > No One Immediately
Wearing: A solid red hoodie over black jeans and running shoes.

There’s a bloom of warmth in his chest when Devon hears Lily’s voice directed at him for the first time in what feels like a lifetime. But it’s not quite warm enough to get through old memories and the time between then and now. It had been so long since she was in front of him, since they talked, since they laughed. Despite the ache - or rather in spite of it, he smiles at her returned well wishes making the most of this moment.

She says she’s good and Devon hopes that’s the truth. He can’t tell if she’s lying for his sake anymore, not like he could before. He used to know her, he thinks watching as flashes of emotions play across her face. He used to know what she looked like when she was putting on a brave face, he used to know what her laughter sounded like. Looking at her now, Devon can see moments of their past reflected back at him, but so much has changed that the memories don’t quite overlay with the present version of her.

Not for the first time since high school, not even for the first time this month if he was being honest with himself, he wonders what happened to them. What did he do that made her walk away? Because she did, didn’t she? Their friendship didn’t fall apart due to the pressure of time and age like some childhood friendships do. It fell apart by choice.

When Lily turns to leave Devon has to stop himself from taking her hand, from asking ‘what happened to them’, from trying to get her to laugh again just to refresh his memory, from doing anything outside of waving her off. “You too, Lils.” It wouldn’t be fair to force his way back into her life, so he shoves his hands into his pockets as she leaves the cafe, escaping out into the morning air. “You too.” He repeats softly, lowly dropping his smile as the door closes between them. One day, he’ll be brave enough and selfish enough to follow her after her, to ask what happened, to ask her to be his friend again. But today, he just hopes she told him the truth and that she’s doing well. She deserves that much.

That passing moment in the cafe comes to mind a few times over the next couple of weeks, but Devon’s thoughts and time are also taken up by classes, practice, and friends. When the last class of the day lets out, he follows after a few of his friends towards the library with plans to study before dinner. The weather was nice out and he’d rather be outside on the grass than inside looking over words and concepts he doesn’t understand, but there is an exam coming up and Devon knows he’ll need to review the material.

That decision lasts all of thirty minutes once textbooks and notes are out on the table. He can’t focus - the words and letters moving about on the page of his textbook too quickly for his thoughts to keep up. He groans and stands, telling his friends he’s taking a lap. Two of them nod without looking up engrossed in the material and the third one asks if he’s alright. Devon waves off his concern with a smile, “I just need to stretch my legs.”

Hoping to work off some of his excess energy and frustration but knowing that if he leaves the building he’s not coming back in, Devon starts to walk through the shelves of the school’s library. Slowly and without any real purpose other than to direct his thoughts he runs his finger along the spines of the books reading the titles aloud quietly to himself so as not to bother those around him, “The handbook of chemical anatomy… principals of applied… collection of Ramony Cajal… the nervous system and… ” Some spines were easier to read than others, some had titles that needed two lines making the text smaller, some were printed in gold ink colors, and others only had the authors’ names. But he was able to determine that this particular section of the library covered biology… or maybe it was chemistry? Maybe it was just the parts that overlap between the topics? Okay, so he wasn’t actually all that sure what the overall subject of the section was - but he did know that it was out of his field of expertise.

It wasn’t like he was dumb, though, he thought. Sure, the textbooks back with his friends were giving him problems, but it wasn’t the content of the books that was the problem. He could understand stuff if he tried. He just had to try. And he could. He could try. With a short startle, he pulls a book - the one with the nicest font - off the shelf and opens to the middle of it. There's an image of an eyeball that depicts a yellow beam of light passing through the center of it. Skimming the text below, the letters staying where they were printed, he tries to make sense of the image.

For a moment, he wonders if Lily would understand the text and what her major in college was. She had always been good in school and he knew what she wanted to be as a child. Was it the same now? Regardless of her plan, Devon thinks she’d understand what the text was saying about refraction and transformations and bipolar cells and the optic nerve.