Until The Rain Stops

Not just a stranger

EPISODE 2:

Amara read the message at least six times

Unknown Number:

You okay?

Her fingers hovered above the keyboard

She almost ignored it

Random strangers suddenly cared because she cried online for two minutes.

That was how social media worked.

Another message entered immediately

Unknown number:

Sorry if that sounded weird.

I just wanted to check up on you

Amara bit her lower lip

Then typed carefully

Amara:

I'm fine.

Unknown Number:

You don't sound fine

Amara rolled her eyes slightly.

Amara:

And you can tell from text?

Unknown number:

Somehow, yes

For the first time that night Amara smiled faintly.

Then another message entered

Unknown Number;

It's Xavier by name the way.

Her eyes widened immediately.

Xavier?

THE Xavier?

Her Heartbeat sped up embarrassingly fast.

Amara quickly sat up properly on the bed.

Amara:

Xavier Obi?

Xavier:

Unless there's another fine Xavier disturbing girls at night

She laughed softly before she could stop herself.

The conversation continued longer than she expected.

Shockingly.... it felt easy, like talking to somebody she had known before.

By 1:43AM, Amara realized she had been smiling at her phone for almost an hour.

"God abeg", she muttered quietly.

Xavier:

Why were you crying earlier?

The question ruined her smile instantly

Amara stared at the message.

She didn't know how to explain the heaviness she carried daily.

How loneliness sometimes sat inside her chest like cement.

How pretending to be okay was becoming exhausting

Instead she typed:

Just tired.

Xavier replied almost immediately:

I know that kind of tired

Something about that message felt painfully genuine.

Amara suddenly became curious about him too.

Everybody online saw Xavier as rich, perfect, and confident young boy but the way he texted felt different, soft and almost sad.

Their conversation continued until nearly 3AM.

Eventually Xavier sent:

Sleep before your eyebags become permanent.

Amara smiled.

Amara:

Good night

Xavier:

Good night, crying girl

She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling after the chat ended.

Then her t****k notification appeared again.

• 2,000 followers

• 300 comments

Her page was exploding rapidly.

Her last video already had over 80k views because Xavier liked it publicly.

"Oh my God"....

She opened the comment section carefully.

Most comments were supportive until she saw one particular comment

@BiancaReal:

Leave my boyfriend alone

Amara's smile disappeared immediately.