Share
MidReal Story
Love Across Pixels
Scenario:Two kids falling in love online but the distance between them forbids their love.
Create my version of this story
Sarah Jennings
Emily's best friend and confidante, skeptical of online relationships, curly blonde hair, blue eyes, loyal and protective.
Emily Carter
online gamer and student, dating Alex virtually, long brown hair, green eyes, witty and resilient.
Alex Torres
online gamer and student, dating Emily virtually, short black hair, brown eyes, intelligent and caring.
I’d been playing the game for hours, and I was getting nowhere.
I was stuck in a level I couldn’t get out of, and it was frustrating me to no end.
I was about to give up when someone messaged me.
"Need help?"
I didn’t recognize the username, but I was desperate, so I replied.
"Yes!"
"Okay, let me join your game."
A few seconds later, the screen said that Alex Torres had entered the game.
I’d never played with him before, but he was a high-ranking player, so he must be good.
He found me in the level and started killing all the monsters that were attacking me.
"Thanks," I said.
"No problem," he replied.
"This level is hard. What are you doing here?"
"I need to get to the next level. Can you help me?"
"Sure. Follow me."
We started walking through the level together, and he showed me how to avoid the monsters and traps that had been killing me before.
He was really good at the game, and he knew all the secrets to getting through each level as quickly as possible.
He helped me get to the end of the level, and we both jumped through the portal that led to the next one.
"Thanks for your help," I said.
"No problem. Do you want to play together?"
"Sure," I replied, feeling a mix of relief and excitement.
We continued through the next level, and Alex was just as skilled here as he was in the previous one.
"Watch out for that trap," he warned, pointing to a barely visible tripwire.
I jumped over it just in time.
"How do you know all this?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"I've been playing this game for years," he said with a chuckle. "You pick up a few tricks along the way."
We fought off a horde of monsters together, our characters moving in perfect sync.
It felt like we had been playing together for ages, even though we had just met.
"So, what got you into this game?" Alex asked as we took a brief respite in a safe zone.
"I guess I needed an escape," I admitted. "Life's been... complicated."
He didn't press for details, which I appreciated.
Instead, he shared his own story.
"I get that. For me, it's a way to unwind after work. Plus, I love the challenge."
We continued chatting as we navigated through the level, sharing bits and pieces about our lives outside the game.
I found out that Alex was a graphic designer who loved hiking on weekends.
I told him about my passion for photography and how I was trying to turn it into a career.
"That's awesome," he said. "I'd love to see some of your work sometime."
"Maybe I'll show you," I replied with a smile, even though he couldn't see it through the screen.
We reached the final boss of the level, a massive dragon that seemed impossible to defeat.
"Ready?" Alex asked.
"As I'll ever be," I said, gripping my controller tightly.
The battle was intense, with fireballs and claws coming at us from every direction.
But with Alex's guidance and our combined efforts, we managed to bring the dragon down.
"Yes!" I shouted as the dragon let out its final roar and collapsed.
"Great job," Alex said. "You did really well."
"Thanks to you," I replied. "I couldn't have done it without your help."
"Anytime," he said. "Do you want to keep going?"
I hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Yeah, let's do it."
We played for another couple of hours, tackling more levels and growing more comfortable with each other.
Eventually, it was time for me to log off.
"I should go," I said reluctantly. "It's getting late."
"No problem," Alex replied. "It was fun playing with you."
"Yeah, it was," I agreed. "Let's do it again soon."
"Definitely," he said. "Goodnight, Emily."
"Goodnight, Alex."
I logged off and leaned back in my chair, my mind buzzing with thoughts of Alex and our time together in the game.
The next day, I couldn't wait to tell Sarah about him.
"So, I met this guy online last night," I started as we sat down for lunch at our favorite café.
"Oh?" Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Tell me more."
"His name is Alex Torres. He's really good at the game I've been playing. He helped me get through some tough levels."
Sarah listened intently as I recounted our adventure from the night before.
"He sounds nice," she said when I finished. "But be careful, Em. You never know who people really are online."
"I know," I said with a sigh. "But he seems genuine."
"Just promise me you'll be cautious," Sarah insisted.
"I promise," I said with a smile.
As we finished our lunch and headed back to work, my phone buzzed with a new message notification.
I hesitated for a moment, remembering Sarah's words. But I couldn't deny the excitement bubbling up inside me. "Sure," I typed back. "What time?"
"How about 8 PM?" he replied.
"Sounds good. See you then."
The day dragged on as I counted down the hours until our next gaming session. Finally, 8 PM rolled around, and I logged into the game. Alex was already there, waiting for me.
"Hey," he greeted me as my character appeared on the screen.
"Hey," I replied, feeling a strange mix of nervousness and anticipation.
"Ready for another adventure?" he asked.
"Always," I said with a grin.
We dove into the game, tackling new levels and facing even tougher challenges. As we played, our conversation grew deeper.
"So, how's school going?" Alex asked during a brief lull in the action.
"It's okay," I said. "Stressful, but I'm managing. What about you? How's work?"
"It's been rough lately," he admitted. "Deadlines are piling up, and my family situation isn't helping."
I could hear the strain in his voice. "What's going on with your family?" I asked gently.
"My parents are going through a rough patch," he said quietly. "It's been hard to focus on anything else."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I said sincerely. "That must be tough."
"Yeah," he sighed. "But gaming helps me escape for a while."
"I get that," I said. "It's why I started playing too."
We continued playing, sharing more about our lives outside the game. The more we talked, the stronger our connection felt.
"You're really good at this," Alex said as we defeated another wave of monsters.
"Thanks," I replied with a laugh. "But I couldn't have done it without you."
"Teamwork makes the dream work," he joked.
We both laughed, the tension easing away as we teased each other and shared stories. It felt like we were old friends, even though we'd only just met.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a text message from Sarah. "Remember to be cautious," it read.
I sighed but quickly reassured her. "I know what I'm doing," I texted back before returning my attention to the game.
As the evening wore on, we found ourselves planning our next session together.
"This was fun," Alex said as we wrapped up another level.
"It really was," I agreed. "When can we do this again?"
"How about tomorrow night?" he suggested.
"I'd love that," I said, feeling a mix of joy and longing.
"Great," he said with a smile in his voice. "I'll see you then."
"Goodnight, Alex."
"Goodnight, Emily."
I logged off and stared at my screen for a moment, wishing we could meet in person. The connection we had felt so real, yet there was still that barrier of distance between us.
My phone buzzed again with another message from Sarah. "Just be careful, okay?"
The journey felt endless. My mind was filled with thoughts of Alex. What if he wasn't what I expected? What if our connection didn't translate in person? The bus rumbled along the highway, the scenery blurring past the window.
When I finally arrived, I stepped off the bus and looked around. The park was serene, with tall trees casting long shadows on the grass. I spotted Alex waiting by a bench, looking around nervously. He wore a blue hoodie and jeans, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
We locked eyes, both smiling shyly. I walked towards him, my steps slow and deliberate. "Hey," I said softly.
"Hey," he replied, his voice matching my nervous energy.
We stood there for a moment, just taking each other in. "It's really you," I said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," he chuckled awkwardly. "It's really me."
We both laughed, the tension easing slightly. "Want to walk?" he suggested.
"Sure," I nodded.
We started walking along the park's winding path. The air was crisp and cool, filled with the scent of pine and freshly cut grass. Birds chirped in the distance, adding to the peaceful ambiance.
"So," Alex began, "how was your trip?"
"Long," I admitted. "But worth it."
"I'm glad you came," he said, glancing at me with a smile.
"Me too," I replied, feeling a mix of relief and fear.
We continued walking in silence for a bit, both lost in our thoughts. Finally, Alex spoke up again. "I was really nervous about meeting you."
"Me too," I confessed. "I kept wondering if things would be different in person."
"And are they?" he asked, looking genuinely curious.
I paused to think about it. "Not really," I said slowly. "It feels... natural."
He smiled at that. "Yeah, it does."
We reached a small pond where ducks were swimming lazily. We sat down on a nearby bench, watching them glide across the water. "So," Alex said after a while, "tell me more about your photography."
I brightened at the topic. "Well, I've been into it since high school. It's my way of capturing moments and emotions."
"That's amazing," he said sincerely. "I'd love to see some of your work someday."
"I'd like that," I replied with a smile.
We talked more about our hobbies and interests, finding common ground in our love for creativity and adventure. The conversation flowed easily, just like it did online.
As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the park, we found ourselves back at the entrance where we first met. "I had a great time today," Alex said softly.
"Me too," I agreed.
He looked at me for a moment before speaking again. "Can we do this again sometime?"
"I'd like that," I said honestly.
He smiled widely at that. "Great."
We stood there for another moment before he finally spoke again. "I guess this is goodbye for now."
"Yeah," I said reluctantly.
He took a step closer and gave me a quick hug. It was brief but comforting. "Take care, Emily."
"You too, Alex."
With one last smile, we parted ways. As I walked back to the bus stop, my heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.
My phone buzzed with a message from Sarah as I waited for the bus home: "How did it go?"
