A Little Bit of Light (Tree Bros)

Little things

I heard the school bell ring, though by now it just felt like a harsh numbness throughout my body signaling some sort of movement. I was on autopilot walking towards the car, as I felt my phone buzz from my pocket.
"That's weird, I never get texts." I thought to myself, but checked my phone anyways. It was that app that Alana had made me download, and it was a message from one of the users to me. It read,
I<3Trees: Hello! My names Evan, but you can call me whatever! The app directed me to you?? Apparently it thinks we could be good friends or something along it's 'compatibility algorithm'. You probably don't want to talk to me, and I understand if you don't want to, I'm not a very interesting person, but please reply if you get the chance!

I had nothing to lose, so I replied with.

HotTopic: yah it's okay, I don't mind. I don't actually have any irl friends and a girl at my school wanted me to download this or whatever because 'I was showing signs of depression'. Don't get me wrong, I'm depressed, but I don't need people saying that. Names Connor, btw.

I didn't think I would get a response until two minutes later I felt my phone buzz in my pocket for the second time that day.

I<3Trees: uh yeah! I get that! I don't have any friends either. My mom kinda made me download it for my social anxiety? I can't order pizza without breaking down in tears haha.

I felt a small pang in my chest. This kid had obviously been through so much, and I'd only known him for a handful of minutes. I replied with,

HotTopic: dude I'm sorry about that, I wish there was something I could do. This is a random question, but how old are you?

I<3Trees: uh, senior year? I really don't want to think about college rn, or my entire life for that matter. I'm probably gonna die alone in a cottage with lots of bonsai trees lol

A lot of questions started to race through my head. How could this boy possibly think he was going to be alone forever? Didn't he at least have a chance at finding his soulmate? Didn't he have the red string?
Wasn't he worthy of love?

HotTopic: that can't be true. Someone as charismatic and sweet as you couldn't possibly die alone.

I<3Trees: uhm, I'm not the most attractive human being?? And besides, no one really knows me. I do have one crush on this girl?? She told me that she already found her soulmate, who's named Alana. She also said her brother is an asshole??? I don't think that's true though I think he's just super misunderstood. Anyways I'm rambling lol

I started to feel a little bit of underlying suspicion. Now that I thought about it, the little time I did spend caring about Zoe, she talked about Alana a lot. And how many people know an Alana and talk shit about their brother? Of course, I could be wrong, so I let it be for now.

HotTopic: You like trees??

I<3Trees: yes!!! Wait, how'd you know???

I found it a little adorable how oblivious this kid could be sometimes.

HotTopic: your username, dumbass. It said "I<3Trees" so I only assumed

I<3Trees: omg I'm so sorry I should stop talking haha that was really dumb I'm sorry

HotTopic: hey, chill out. It's okay. Can you tell me a little bit about trees?

I<3Trees: well, I can a little. I can tell you that trees would never die of old age, just disease, and that trees can live up to thousands of years old! Redwood trees have the best longevity of all species though. My favorite tree, however is the Alder tree! It can successfully restore poor soil in a matter of years, which makes it crucial to some environments. I'm rambling again sorry also

HotTopic: No, it's fine. I actually thought that was pretty interesting. You really do know an awful lot about trees.

I<3Trees: yeah, I kinda do. My school offers this summer enrichment program and I got to work at a national park. It was pretty cool.

HotTopic: hold up, do you go to RJHS??? I kinda go there too if you do??

I<3Trees: yeah I do??? That's super crazy! I kinda gtg, my calc teacher loaded me tonight. See you at school, I guess?? Even if I don't even really know who you are it's still super cool to think that we'll be in the same building.

I flinched at the sentence. "See you at school tomorrow." He wouldn't find me at school tomorrow, I would be dead tomorrow. I would be gone. But, could I let this poor boy go? Leave him thinking that the only person who was ever his friend killed themselves the day they started talking and leave him to think it was his fault? No. I decided that I didn't have the heart to make my only friend hurt like that. The voice in the back of my head said that he wouldn't care, but for once in my life I didn't listen. I replied;

HotTopic: yeah, I'll see you tomorrow.

I had been holding the phone in my left hand before putting it face down on his desk. I noticed something, however. There was something strange, something new and exciting about this familiar scene. There was something there that I had always wanted but never had. I looked down at my hand;
There was a red string.
I had a soulmate.