There was once a young girl named Melissa. She was an outcast, a misfit, an odd girl living in the neighborhood. People disliked her, as if she were a mistake no one had asked for.

Melissa was born with a strange condition: her skin was wrinkled, she couldn’t grow any teeth, and she had issues with her growth. The doctors believed she was aging far earlier than she was supposed to.

By the time she turned 14, she looked hideous. People treated her badly; some of the kids even started calling her a monster. She had begun to isolate herself, avoiding all spaces except her bedroom.

Her parents neglected her, her siblings abused her. No one was there for her; no one tried to help. Then, a man moved into the house next to hers. He looked very pale, very tired, introverted, and somehow lazy.

But the smile he gave her when she popped her head out of the window was different. It was the first time someone looked at her for more than just a second. The man even smiled, seemingly unbothered by her appearance.

Joy filled her heart, and she laughed quietly, not wanting to irritate her parents. The new neighbor often made noises in the middle of the night, waking Melissa so many times that she began to stay up late---it's not like anyone cared if she lacked sleep.

When the noises started, she would pull aside her blinds and look for her new neighbor. She saw him working with wood and nails in his front yard. It was dark, so she couldn't see exactly what he was making.

Sometimes, the neighbor would notice her, wave a bit, and continue his work. Occasionally, he would bring large papers with him and, on his breaks, write messages for her to read.

Sometimes, it was a yes or no question.

Sometimes, it was a joke that made her laugh.

Sometimes, it was a wholesome sentence like, "Even if we’re just talking like this, I know we’re very close at heart."

She started to feel happy again. Having a friend for the first time in 14 years was new to her. So, she decided to make some large letters for him too.

One night, she prepared the papers and crayons she needed. When the noises started, her heart skipped a beat. The joy she felt interacting with him filled her lungs once more.

She quickly looked out of her window and saw the man working on stacking wood. She wanted to shout, to call out to him, but remembered they didn't know each other's names. So, she waited until he noticed her. After 15 minutes, he finally turned his head toward the window.

The smile he gave her made her night bright. She eagerly reached for the papers she had prepared and pressed them against the window. There were already messages on the paper, so she just needed to choose one.

"How are you today, Sir?"

The man could barely read her writing due to the black crayon she used, but he managed to understand. He then grabbed his paper and wrote a reply.

"My day went fine. What about you, Shortcake?"

Melissa blinked, her eyebrows furrowed. She went through her pages but couldn't find a proper reply, so she picked the most neutral one.

"You look good."

When he read the message, he laughed. The man closed his mouth, placed his pointer finger on the paper, and wrote something new. "I guess you didn't see my compliment coming, huh?"

Melissa shook her head. She picked another paper. "Why are you speaking to me? I look awful. I'm a monster."

After reading her message, he wrote something on his paper. He looked confused, pitiful, yet somewhat angry. "Who told you that? You are just as beautiful as anyone else."

Melissa shook her head again. She still didn’t have a proper reply for that paper, so she picked another neutral message.

"Thank you."

He bowed, gave her a hand gesture, and continued his work. Melissa wanted to keep talking, but his work always got in the way, though she didn’t mind. As long as she could befriend him, she was content.

***

As the sun rose, Melissa opened her eyes. She felt cramps all over her hips, a familiar pain from the past eight years. She didn't remember when, but she had fallen asleep by accident. She quickly looked out of the window only to find that the man was no longer there.

Of course he wasn't, she thought. It's morning already. I always wonder where he goes in the morning. I barely see him.

Her eyes caught the reflection of her face. Her skin seemed to have loosened even more, as if it were too large for her skeleton. Something in her eyes made her sockets feel warm.

The doctors didn't know what was happening to her. All they knew was that she was aging far earlier than she should. Melissa was frightened by her appearance.

Hideous.

Monster.

Ugly.

Abnormal.

Mistake.

Curse.

She could hear people's voices in her head, pointing fingers, calling her names. It almost felt like she was living alone, even the food her mother prepared seemed like someone's vomit; she didn’t even bother.

While she was crying, something caught her attention. She dared to look out of the window to see what was making the loud noise. It was her new neighbor, the kind man.

His beard looked wet, but his shirt was neat. He looked at her, waved, and stood there as if waiting for something to happen. When Melissa realized she was supposed to wave back, she did.

The man leaned forward a little and shouted, "Good morning, Sweetpea!"

Even though some people in the neighborhood looked at him strangely, he didn’t seem to care.

Something about it made Melissa happier than usual. She felt... joy.

Shortcake.

Beautiful.

Sweetpea.

New voices echoed in her head. Rather than making her upset, they made her feel special. The aging, abnormal girl of the neighborhood had finally found her very first friend.

And she felt it was enough.

***

As the days passed, Melissa and the neighbor continued their nightly exchanges. Their communication through written messages became a cherished routine. For the first time, Melissa felt a sense of belonging and hope.

However, as time went on, Melissa noticed that her condition was worsening. Her skin sagged more, and her body seemed to age faster. She grew increasingly anxious, knowing that the joyful interactions with her neighbor couldn’t completely erase the harsh reality of her condition.

One evening, she noticed that her neighbor was working more intensely than usual. The papers he brought were covered in detailed drawings and writing, far more intricate than before. Melissa wondered if something was troubling him.

That night, she wrote a message asking, "Are you okay? You seem to be working a lot."

Her neighbor's reply was thoughtful and filled with concern. "I’ve been busy preparing something special for you."

Melissa was intrigued but also worried. "What is it?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he continued working until late into the night. Melissa, despite her concern, felt a flutter of anticipation.

The next morning, when she looked out, she saw her neighbor's front yard transformed. There was a beautiful wooden structure that resembled a small, ornate gazebo, adorned with intricate carvings and soft, glowing lights. It was a haven of warmth and beauty in the midst of her bleak world.

Melissa’s heart swelled with gratitude. She saw a note on the structure, which read: "This is for you, Shortcake. A place where you can always find peace and beauty. You are a treasure, and I am honored to be your friend."

Her eyes filled with tears, both of joy and sadness. She realized that, despite her struggles and the harshness of her condition, she had found something precious: true friendship and a place where she could feel loved and valued.

As she sat in the gazebo, she felt a deep sense of comfort. The new voices in her head were no longer harsh and cruel but filled with kindness and warmth. The world outside might still be unkind, but within her small sanctuary, Melissa found solace.

For the first time, she felt like she belonged, and it was enough. Even as the days continued to pass and her condition worsened, she knew she had a friend who saw her for who she truly was---a person worthy of love and happiness.

And so, Melissa embraced her new reality with a heart full of gratitude, knowing that sometimes, even amidst the darkness, light and kindness could still be found.

***

1.446 words.

I swear Melissa is not groomed.