I woke up with that word stuck in my head.
Choose.
It sounded simple.
But nothing about this felt simple.
At school, I kept thinking about it.
Choose what?
Talk to someone?
Ignore something?
Do something stupid?
During first period, my phone stayed silent.
Second period — still nothing.
By lunch, I was starting to feel angry.
"If you want me to choose," I whispered,
"at least tell me the options."
I sat alone near the window, poking my food.
Then—
Buzz.
I almost smiled.
Finally.
Unknown Number: Today after school, go to the old notice board.
I frowned.
The old notice board was near the storage room.
Nobody went there anymore.
I typed: And the choice?
A reply came after a short pause.
Unknown Number: You will understand when you reach there.
Of course.
After school, the corridors were quiet.
Most students had already left.
I walked slowly toward the old notice board.
The lights there were dim.
One bulb kept blinking like it was tired of life.
"Very welcoming," I muttered.
The board was covered with old papers.
Exam schedules.
Lost-and-found notices from years ago.
I stood there, waiting.
Nothing happened.
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
I sighed.
"So this is the choice? Waiting until I grow old?"
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown Number: Look behind the board.
I carefully pulled it a little forward.
Something fell to the floor.
A small folded paper.
I picked it up.
On it was written:
Option A: Walk away now.
Option B: Read this note.
I stared at it.
"That's not fair," I whispered.
"You already know what I'll pick."
I read the note.
It said: If you walk away, this ends today.
No more messages.
No more secrets.
My heart beat faster.
Then:
If you stay, you will lose something small…
but learn something important.
I swallowed.
"What kind of choice is this?" I whispered.
I looked around the empty hallway.
No one was there.
No sound.
Just me and the blinking light.
I thought about my normal days.
The quiet classes.
The same routine.
I folded the paper.
Slowly, I took out my phone.
I typed one word: Stay.
The reply came immediately.
Unknown Number: Choice accepted.
The blinking light stopped.
Everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
Then my phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number: Tomorrow, you will lose something you never noticed.
I stood there, frozen.
I didn't know what I had chosen.
But I knew one thing—
There was no turning back now.