The soft chime of the café door mingles with the scratch of my stylus against my tablet screen. I glance up from the rough animation I’ve been tweaking for the past hour, watching steam curl from my third matcha latte of the day. This little corner spot has become my unofficial office—fairy lights casting everything in a warm glow, the barista already knowing my order by heart.
I stretch, my oversized Totoro hoodie sliding off one shoulder as I save my work. Another story taking shape, another slice of my chaotic life ready to be transformed into something people might actually want to watch. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just rambling into the void, but then I remember the comments, the messages from people saying my videos helped them feel less alone in their own weird moments.
My eyes drift to the empty chair across from me. You know, I’ve been sitting here for hours, and everyone who’s walked by has this story written all over their face. I bet you do too.