The morning sun streamed through the curtains of Alice Hart's bedroom, casting long shadows across her desk where she sat hunched over her laptop. Alice sighed, rubbing her tired eyes.
She'd been staring at the same calculus problem for the past twenty minutes, and the numbers had started to blur together. The equation seemed to mock her, dancing just beyond her comprehension like everything else in her life these days.
Her father had left for work an hour ago, but not before the usual morning ritual. As a responsible man, he cooked lunch for Alice and her mom and cleaned the first floor of the house before leaving for the office.
The conversation at breakfast had been as predictable as it was draining. He'd asked about her homework, her private tuitions, demanded to see her mock test scores, and then—because he always had to circle back to it—wanted to know if she was "still thinking about her future."
Alice had answered in clipped, single-word responses. "Yes." "No." "Fine." She'd tried not to sound disrespectful or give him an attitude, but the exhaustion was bone-deep. She'd literally just woken up, and already she felt like she'd run a marathon.
"Take a day off," he'd said, checking his watch as he grabbed his briefcase. "The househelp isn't coming today. You'll need to look after your mother, give her timely medicines, do the laundry and clean 2nd floor. Can you do it Alice?"
She'd agreed, because what else could she do? There was no other choice. And now here she was, sulking in her room, her mom's medication schedule taped to the wall beside her desk like some cruel reminder of hell she called life.
The load of laundry she'd started before breakfast was still waiting to be switched to the dryer. The second floor needed cleaning. Her mother's next dose was in an hour. The schoolwork was piling up.
Alice rested her forehead against the cool surface of her desk and closed her eyes. Just for a moment. Just to catch her breath.
Her phone buzzed, vibrating against the wood and startling her out of her near-sleep state. She lifted her head and glanced at the screen.
"Melvin?"
She stared at the name for a long moment, her thumb hovering over the screen. What did he want? They hadn't texted each other properly in weeks. Since he'd confessed he was gay. Since she'd told him to fuck off.
Alice unlocked her phone and opened the message.
Melvin: You're not in school today. Everything okay?
She frowned. He was texting her? After everything? A part of her wanted to ignore him, to toss her phone aside and pretend she hadn't seen it. But another part—the part that still remembered what it felt like to have someone care about her—responded before she could stop herself.
Alice: Why are you suddenly trying to get close to me?
The typing indicator appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared again. Alice watched the three little dots dance on her screen, a small knot of anxiety forming in her stomach.
Melvin: I'm jealous of Damian.
Alice blinked at the message. Then she laughed.
It started as a small chuckle, then grew into something louder, more incredulous. She laughed so hard that tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she had to lean back in her chair to keep from falling out of it. The absurdity of it all—Melvin, who had broken up with her because he'd confessed he was gay, saying he was jealous of Damian.
She could feel the laughter in her chest, a bright, bitter release of tension that had been building for weeks. It was funny. It was so fucking funny.
Alice: And what exactly are you jealous of? His lovers?
She sent it before she could second-guess herself. The typing indicator appeared, and she waited, still grinning.
Melvin: That's rude.
Alice: Is it?
Melvin: I said I was sorry. Look we already talked about me and Emily. You know I don't lie.
Alice: You said a lot of things, Melvin. None of them made me feel better.
She stared at her words, suddenly regretting them. Why was she even engaging with him? She should have just ignored the message. Blocked his number. Moved on with her life.
But she couldn't. There was something about him—some pull she couldn't explain—that kept her tethered to him even when she wanted nothing more than to cut the string. Melvin was perhaps the only friend she had left in this world.
Alice: Why are you bothering me? It's school hours. Don't you have other friends to talk to?
Melvin: Honestly? The other guys kinda hate me. Or they just repel me for some reason.
Alice snorted. She could picture it so clearly—Melvin trying to wedge himself into conversations, the other boys taking a step back, their expressions shifting from confusion to discomfort to outright avoidance.
Alice: That's because the whole class thinks you're gay.
Melvin: No way. That can't be true.
She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. His sarcasm was almost endearing. Almost.
Alice: The rumors started before you broke up with me. People put two and two together. You can stop playing games now Melvin.
Melvin: That's literally the worst joke I've ever heard.
Alice: Welcome to high school.
There was a pause. Alice checked the time. She should probably start on her mother's medication soon. But she didn't move.
Melvin: So that's why you hate me? Because of what people think?
Alice: I don't hate you. I'm just tired.
Melvin: Tired of what?
Alice: Everything. You. School. My life. Take your pick.
Melvin: That's not a real answer.
Alice: It's the only one you're getting.
She waited for his response, suddenly aware of how quiet the house was. The television in her mother's room had stopped playing. She should probably check on her. In a minute.
Melvin: I need to ask you something.
Alice: What?
Melvin: Why don't YOU make other friends?
Alice frowned. He was right. She'd been pulling away from everyone lately. Even if her backstabbing friends are now gone.
Alice: I don't know. Maybe I'm just not good at it.
Melvin: You're good at it. You're good at everything.
Alice: Flattery isn't going to work on me.
Melvin: I'm not flattering you. I'm just saying what's true. And I'm more the same like you. Making friends is just as hard for me.
Alice: Forget it. Why can't you bother your boyfriend Nathan instead?
Melvin: Nathan is kind of not my type.
Alice: Oh? And what's your type?
The typing indicator appeared, then disappeared. Alice waited, her mind bored out of witts.
Melvin: You. You're my type.
Alice laughed again.
Alice: I'm never getting back with you.
Melvin: Why not?
Alice: Because I'd rather be alone than have a gay boyfriend. No offense, but I can't fulfill what you need. I don't want to be in a relationship where I'm just some... cover.
Melvin: I want you to play pretend this time. I'll pay you. Please Alice.
Alice shook her head, her fingers flying across the screen.
Alice: No. No amount of money is worth this bullshit. Go find someone else to fuck with.
Melvin: Come on. It'll be fun.
Alice: This is about the bullying, isn't it? The isolation from the other guys?
Melvin: No. It's because I'm bored. And I need a friend to advise me. Counsel me.
Alice: There are plenty of other girls interested in you. They'd probably give you better advice about dating guys than I would... without taking your money.
Melvin: I don't want them. I want you.
Alice: I can be your friend, Melvin. But I'm not getting close to you like before. That's a fact.
Melvin: Deal.
Alice felt something shift in her chest. Relief? Anger? She couldn't tell.
Alice: Why don't you try to make friends with other students? Real ones? Like for real real.
Melvin: Because none of them are like you.
She wasn't sure how to respond to that. Part of her felt good. Seen. Part of her felt wary, wondering if he was just trying to manipulate her.
Alice: Okay, so who's your real crush?
Melvin: What?
Alice: Since Nathan isn't your type. Someone has to be, right? Come on. Spill. I promise I won't tell anyone.
Melvin: Will you keep it a secet?
Alice: You know what? That's fine. You don't have to. Cause I don't care.
Melvin: No, no, I want to say it. I trust you. I've had this secret pent up for a few years now. I really can't hold it in any longer.
Alice: Okay. I'm here.
Melvin: Promise me you won't tell anyone. Swear it.
Alice: I swear.
Melvin: I have a crush on my step-uncle.
Alice's blood went cold.
Alice: That's not funny.
Melvin: It's not a joke. Even if it is funny as shit.
Alice: Melvin. This is... this is serious. That's a serious offense. Why are you confessing your sins to me in a text message? If someone finds this—
Melvin: I don't care anymore.
Alice: You should care. This could ruin your family.
Melvin: I'm lonely, Alice. I have no one to share this with. Nathan doesn't even know, and I'm scared of losing him too.
Alice: Were you ever scared of losing me as a friend?
Melvin: I already lost you. That fight in the hallway. I knew I wouldn't get you back.
Alice: Melvin...
She wasn't sure what to say. She was angry at him for being so careless and heartless. But he'd just shared the most intimate part of himself, and she couldn't stay mad.
Alice: What do you want to do?
Melvin: Yesterday was the worst night of my life. Charles told the family he's moving out. He bragged about his girlfriend Rachel. I lashed out at dinner, left half my food untouched even though my stepmom made all my favorites. My dad was furious. I ruined everything.
Alice: That's pathetic.
Melvin: I know. And now I'm going to ask Charles out.
Alice: That's even more pathetic. You'll ruin your relationship with your family just to get laid. That's a terrible sign.
Melvin: Look I'm desperate. Depressed. Mad. Lonely as shit.
Alice: You can't have it all. That's just life Melvin.
Melvin: Fuck it.
Alice stared at the screen. No more typing. No more messages.
She started on her homework, trying to focus on the calculus problems. But her mind kept drifting back to Melvin.
Hours passed. The sun moved across the sky. Alice switched the laundry to the dryer. She gave her mother her medication. She ate a sad sandwich for lunch. She tried not to think about Melvin. And then her phone buzzed.
Melvin: I'm going to end it all.
Alice's heart stopped. She didn't think. She just called him. He picked up on the first ring.
"I don't want to live anymore."
His voice sounded so small. So broken. Alice felt tears prick at her eyes.
"Melvin, stop. Whatever you're doing, stop. Just listen to me."
"I can't do this, Alice. I can't take it anymore."
"Melvin, I'm serious. Stop doing whatever you are thinking of doing, ok?"
She heard a clatter on the other end of the line. The sound of something metallic hitting the floor.
"Okay," he whispered.
"Good. Now sit down. Just sit down and listen to me."
She heard him slide down, probably against a wall or the bathroom door. His breathing was ragged, hitching with sobs.
"I almost lost my mother," Alice said, her voice shaking. "Death isn't worth it. Do you hear me? It's not worth it. You have a life ahead of you. A life that's worth living."
"I don't want to live," he sobbed.
"Melvin. Listen to me. Just listen to my voice. Everything's going to be okay."
She scrambled for her phone, firing off a rapid text to Damian.
Alice: Melvin's going to hurt himself. Boys bathroom. Find him now.
Damian: Ok.
She kept talking to Melvin, her voice steady even though everything inside her was falling apart. She told him about her mother, about the nights she'd spent praying for her to wake up after the attempted suicide from overdosing, about how she'd learned that life was precious. She told him that he was important, that people cared about him, that she cared about him even though he betrayed her.
And then she heard it—Damian's voice, muffled through the phone but unmistakable.
"Melvin! Open the door!"
Alice sagged in relief, pressing her forehead against the desk.
"Melvin," she said softly. "Open the door. Damian is there. Open the door for him."
She heard banging, then shouting, then the sound of the door being pushed open.
"Damian," Alice whispered, wiping away tears she didn't realize she'd been crying.
Melvin hung up.
She stared at her phone, her hands still trembling. She didn't know what was happening on the other end, but Damian was there. That was what mattered.
Her phone buzzed.
Damian: He's okay. Cuts but not deep. I'll handle it.
Alice: Thank you. I owe you one.
Damian: Yeah, you definitely do.
Alice let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She closed her eyes and just breathed.
She'd saved someone today.
That had to count for something.