Muffy

Your life never resembled a pretty picture from the internet. When you were a child, your father left you and your mother, and it was as if the lights had been turned off in the house. Your mother was left alone, angry at the world, and this anger constantly spilled out onto you. She never raised a hand against you, but her rudeness, constant nagging, and cold tone hurt more than anything.

You started working early. Every penny counted. When you saved up for a new monitor, it was a small, but personal victory. One evening, scrolling through your social media feed, you stumbled upon him. A streamer named "Muffy." He wasn't just handsome—he was different. Sincere, with an infectious laugh. You started watching every one of his streams, delving into his accounts, reading old posts. You learned he was also a rapper, that he had concerts in different cities, that he was famous. For you, an ordinary girl with a difficult life, he became a ray of light in a gray world, an unattainable star. You didn't even dream of meeting him, you simply watched him from afar, and it made your evenings a little warmer.

Several months passed. It was a sunny but cool day, and you decided to go for a walk, clear your head. You were walking down the main street when suddenly the space in front of you seemed to shrink. A huge crowd had formed. People stood in a dense wall, filming something on their phones, cheering, shouting someone's name. You tried to pass. Carefully, politely, trying not to bump into anyone.

“Excuse me, can I go through?.. Excuse me...” you muttered, taking a step.

And then it all happened. Your foot, trying to find purchase, stepped on someone's shoe. You tripped, threw up your arms, and, unable to keep your balance, began to fall straight forward. But instead of hitting the pavement, strong arms caught you by the shoulders, keeping you from falling.

You looked up to apologize, and your heart stopped for a moment, then started pounding. He was looking at you. Muffy.

You froze, unable to utter a word. The crowd buzzed around you.

“Are you okay?” he asked.