Jeremy Nobody

A Spark of Joy

"I still can't believe you met Jeremy Nobody," Nicole exclaimed, her eyes filled with excitement.

"Yeah, I did. And you know what? I think he actually liked my painting," Melissa replied with a sense of wonder.

"Wow, that's amazing," Sam chimed in.

"Did you tell him it was yours? You know, with the whole made-up artist name and everything," Nicole asked, rolling her eyes playfully.

Melissa paused for a moment, contemplating her response. "Well, I didn't think it was relevant," she admitted.

Nicole scoffed. "Are you kidding? God, you should have told him."

"What's the use of telling him? We'll probably never meet again, so..." Melissa trailed off.

"Because then he would know he was talking to a goddamn freaking amazing artist. You never take credit for anything, and you're crazy talented," Nicole insisted, her enthusiasm unwavering.

Melissa couldn't help but smile at her friends' unwavering support. "How could I have remembered when the moment I looked up at him, I almost forgot how to breathe?"

"Was he really that good-looking?" Sam interjected curiously.

"Absolutely. I wish you had seen him. He was breathtaking," Melissa replied, reminiscing about Jeremy's captivating presence. From his black raven hair to his tall and muscular physique, his flawless skin, and those mesmerizing grey almond-shaped eyes, she couldn't help but get lost in the memory.

However, she quickly shook off her thoughts, realizing she was still caught up in the allure of their encounter. "This has to stop," she thought to herself. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this way about someone.

"Are you alright, Melissa?" Nicky asked, concerned by the sudden change in her friend's demeanor. She had noticed the transition from a cute blush to a deep frown.

"Yes, I'm fine. I have to get to work," Melissa said, grabbing her bag.

"But it's only 6:30," Sam pointed out.

"So? You know what they say, right? The early bird gets the fastest worm," Melissa replied with a genial smile.

"What do you need a fat worm for?" Sam joked.

"To make worm soup," Melissa retorted sarcastically. "I'll see you guys when I get back, okay?"

"Bye," Nicky and Sam replied in unison.

After Melissa left, Nicky turned to Sam, a quizzical expression on her face. "Doesn't it feel like she's a bit too happy this morning?"

"Yeah, maybe a little," Sam agreed, pondering the reason behind Melissa's newfound joy.

"Hmm... I thought so," Nicky replied, her thoughts aligning with Sam's observation. "Do you think it has anything to do with meeting Jeremy Nobody?"

"Of course it does. It has to be. I haven't seen her this happy in a long time. She doesn't smile as often as she used to," Nicole remarked, recalling the days when Melissa's laughter and smiles were frequent.

"It's not her fault. She had good reasons to change. I mean, prison is not a place to go around smiling and telling silly jokes," Sam empathized, her voice filled with understanding. Having her own experience with incarceration, she knew all too well the toll it could take on one's spirit.

"You're right. I didn't mean it like that," Nicole admitted, realizing her oversight.

"I know. But you can't rush things. She'll be fine with time, you'll see," Sam reassured her, her conviction unwavering.

"I hope so. Now let's go make some breakfast."

"Alright."