The night had fallen, casting a soft, eerie glow through the window. She lay on her bed, staring at the dim ceiling, her mind a restless tide of thoughts. Eighty-eight days—that was all she had. A stretch of time that felt both fleeting and endless. What could she do? Where would she be by the end of this journey? Stuck at home, she knew these days had the power to change her life—if only she dared to make a change.
Her fingers moved absentmindedly over the smooth surface of her phone, scrolling through endless posts, searching for something—an answer, a spark, a push. She found herself on Red Note, a newly popular app she had come to treat as her personal online sanctuary, a place where she could pour out her thoughts without the prying eyes of those who claimed to care but never truly understood.
Then, a comment appeared beneath one of her posts. A stranger had written:
"Why not start by writing down everything that makes you uncomfortable? And then, set some goals for tomorrow—small steps toward transformation."
She hesitated. A battle raged within her. One voice whispered, "I'm in so much pain right now... but taking action? It won’t change anything." Yet another, much louder voice roared back:
"No! You can’t keep living like this! You have to do something—change everything! Change your failed relationships, your stagnant job, your entire life!"
As if sensing her hesitation, the commenter replied again:
"Start small. I believe you can do more than you imagine. Even if you don’t share it online, record your life—just like YouTube bloggers do. Watching yourself grow will help you stay motivated and disciplined. Try it, brave girl. We’re here for you!"
Her heart pounded. A tiny ember of hope flickered within her. Could this really be the beginning of something new?
She hesitated for a moment before typing out a simple question:
"So... what exactly should I do?"
Almost instantly, a new comment appeared beneath her post.
"Maybe you could start by building confidence—try putting on makeup every day. It might help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera."
More comments flooded in, one after another, like waves crashing onto the shore.
"Try turning off your phone for an hour each day. It could help ease your anxiety."
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"If you're a fresh graduate looking for a job, start by preparing your interview materials and sending out more applications."
"Don't worry about your thesis—AI tools can help. You'll get it done eventually..."
"You could also try losing weight. A better figure might boost your confidence, too."
There were too many. The screen was filled with suggestions, each one a different path, a different possibility. She stared at them, her vision blurring, her heart growing heavier with each passing second.
But then, a familiar, gnawing thought crept into her mind. Even if I do all these things… no guy will like me anyway.
Just like that, she was pulled back into the shadows of her past. Doubt wrapped around her like an invisible chain, tightening its grip. She was lost—standing at a crossroads with no clear direction, too afraid to take a single step forward.
Then, the first commenter returned with another message.
"There are many choices, but I still think the best way is to start with something simple—something that suits you. That way, you can stick with it step by step. Why don’t we begin with what you’re doing right now?"
"What I’m doing…?"
She hesitated, thinking for a moment before replying.
"I’m at home with my parents. Sometimes I work on my thesis, sometimes I read."
"Sounds a bit dull, to be honest," the commenter replied. "Do you have any hobbies?"
She thought for a moment before typing, "Reading."
Almost immediately, the comment section came to life.
"Sounds like an introvert to me!"
"Same here… just drifting through life, no real motivation, no hope…"
The messages piled up, each one echoing a quiet kind of resignation. But then, the first commenter spoke again, their words cutting through the noise like a sharp but gentle push.
"Why not try putting on makeup every day? Stick with it, make it a daily habit—we’ll be here to keep you accountable. Oh, and have you ever considered doing something that involves expressing yourself more? Something that could help build your confidence?"
She frowned slightly. "Expressing myself? Like what?"
"Oh, something like being a YouTube creator. I think it could slowly help you develop confidence."
She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the screen. "But I’ve never done anything like that before… what if no one likes me?"
The thought alone sent a chill of uncertainty down her spine. What if she failed? What if she was just wasting her time?
All these years… she thought to herself. I’ve followed the rules, been the good girl everyone expected me to be. But where has that gotten me? Nowhere. I’ve spent so long doubting myself, wondering… maybe it’s time to do something different.
As if sensing her wavering thoughts, the first commenter replied again.
"Don’t worry. The beginning is always the hardest. But why not see what it feels like to stick with something for once?"
"What it feels like to stick with something…"
The words echoed in her mind, stirring something unfamiliar. Had she ever truly committed to anything before? From childhood to now, she had drifted through life, always doing what was expected, but never really holding on to something for herself.
Maybe… maybe it was time to change that.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she finally typed her reply.
"Alright. I want to try."