VIRTUAL FLAME

1: The First Message It all started with a comment. Vivian wasn’t expecting anything special when she posted on a random f*******: group—just a passing thought about relationships and the silence that lives between people who are supposed to be in love. Then came a reply. Witty. Honest. Unexpected. Alex: "Maybe silence isn't the absence of love. Maybe it's just the echo of everything left unsaid." That line stayed with her. So much that when he sent a private message, she didn’t ignore it like she usually did. He was from another country, a different time zone. But somehow, they spoke the same emotional language. Their conversation flowed easily—like old friends who’d skipped the awkward phase. They joked, shared silly details, swapped music, vented about work and life. Until Vivian dropped a truth bomb: "No man online has ever caught my interest. But you... you’re different." And Alex? He didn’t back away. He leaned in—curious, patient, real. From that night on, the chats became a ritual. He messaged her during his work breaks. She waited for him like clockwork. The comfort was instant. The connection, strange but soothing. They were both married—but dissatisfied. And in the beginning, they told each other exactly that. This was just an escape. Or so they said.