SWEET MISTAKES

Lisa and Emily had been friends for as long as either of them could remember. From childhood into their teenage years, they'd shared everything: academy days, birthdays, and long summer afternoons spent laughing in each other's homes with each other's siblings and families. Now, as young adults navigating college life in different cities, the physical distance had done little to loosen the bond between them. They still spoke regularly, and though life was shifting in new directions, Lisa continued to regard Emily not just as a friend, but as family, like the sister she never had.

When the holiday break arrived, a few months into their first year at college, both girls returned home. As always, one of Lisa's first stops was Emily's house. It had become a tradition to visit her during holidays, just like they did when they were younger. The moment they saw each other again, it felt like nothing had changed. They caught up easily, falling back into old routines, chatting, making short videos, and posting them to their social media accounts. For a brief moment, it was as though the months apart hadn't happened at all, as they still loved and enjoyed each other's company.

But a few days after they'd both returned to their respective campuses, Lisa received a text from Emily.

"Hey, something funny happened," it began. "My cousin saw our video on my page and kind of fell for you he said you're really beautiful. He asked for your number... and I gave it to him. Hope that's okay?"

Lisa hadn't had the chance to respond before another message came through, this time from an unfamiliar number.

"Hi Lisa, I'm Johnson, Emily's cousin. I saw your video and asked for your number. I hope it's all alright. I'd like to get to know you, if that's okay with you."

Lisa was immediately annoyed. She hadn't agreed to share her number, and she felt that Emily should have waited for her consent before passing along her contact information. She texted Emily to express her frustration.

Emily quickly apologized, insisting that her cousin was a genuinely good person and assuring Lisa that she wouldn't regret speaking with him, even if just to be polite.

The next morning, before Lisa had even gotten out of bed, her phone buzzed again.

"Wake up, sunshine! Wishing you a day filled with joy."

She couldn't help but smile. She replied simply: "Good morning."

Soon after, Johnson formally introduced himself. He wrote that his name was Johnson Williams, and that he had seen her video on Emily's social media. He said she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and expressed a clear interest in building a relationship with her if she was open to it.