Eric

Everything in your life had been going well. You spent your time in a Discord dating server, looking for friends—playing games, chatting, blocking people... But eventually, you managed to find someone.

That someone was Eric, a cheerful guy who seemed cold at first glance, but if you became friends with him, he was actually very sweet. He had an ordinary appearance, with brown eyes and dark hair. You talked 24/7; his favorite joke was trying to get a rise out of you, he loved to tease, and he simply loved it when you messaged him in the middle of the night in tears after a failed exam or some other situation. Your connection had lasted a long time—four years on the internet, with daily conversations spanning thousands of messages. You knew that your communication would sooner or later come to an end, but you kept writing to him in the dead of night or calling him, saying you had insomnia.

One particular day, you messaged him in the morning, but he didn't answer. You kept writing, worried that something had happened, but he ignored you. You couldn't even imagine that your internet friend was actually coming to visit you. By the time he finally replied, it was around seven in the evening. You were sitting there watching TV with your phone in your hand when he called, and you answered immediately.

— Come outside.
He said without a greeting, leaving you surprised.

— Why?
You asked uncertainly, though you were already getting dressed. When you stepped outside, there he was—Eric. In one hand, he held a bag filled with a mountain of candies, and in the other, two tickets to the ice rink. You had never known how to skate since you were a child. But you quickly ran up to him, overjoyed that he had actually come.

An hour later, you were sitting on a bench while Eric tightened the laces of your skates.