Chapter 1
Meg Maxon sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, a stack of unopened mail in frontof her. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting stripesof gold across her desk and floor. Her mom’s voice had echoed down the hallwaya few minutes ago, calling her to collect the mail.
“Meg!There’s something in the mailbox for you!”
Meg hadsmiled faintly, tossing her notebook aside. She loved small mysteries likethis. Who knew what awaited her — a flyer for some boring local club, a bill,or… something else?
The walkto the mailbox felt longer than usual. The wind teased at her hair, and her fingers tingled with anticipation. She reached in, pulled out the letters, andfroze.
Therewas one envelope, smaller than the others, thick, and with her name written inhandwriting that… didn’t look familiar.
Meg Maxon, it read.
Curiosity curled in her chest. She tore it open carefully and pulled out the folded note inside.
“Meg,someone will come into your life who will change everything. Pay attention toyour heart, but remember: the choices you make now will shape your future. Bebrave.”
FutureMeg.
Meg blinked, rereading the words. Her heart beat a little faster.
Futureme? she wondered. This has to be a joke, right?
Shelaughed softly to herself as she went back to her room, but something about the handwriting — elegant, confident, almost knowing — made her shiver.
Justthen, Cindy and Mandy popped their heads into her room, grinning.
“Meg! Areyou ready for school? Let me guess — you were thinking about your future, right?”Cindy teased.
“Well,kinda. Cos I got a letter from future me” Meg said, holding up the note. Herfriends leaned in, peering curiously.
Mandy and Cindy gasped. “What!. Meg are you sure you are not hallucinating or something”Mandy asked with a concerned look.
Megrolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “I’m holding the letter, so it’s not hallucination. Anyway……we’ll talk about it in school, for now we are gettinglate” Meg says as she packs her things in her backpack.
She heldthe letter close as she walked to school later that day. The thought of itbuzzed in her head — someone warning her about the future? It was thrilling andterrifying all at once.
Schoolfelt different that morning. Every student milling through the halls seemeddistant, except for Brian.
BrianHartley — the most popular guy in school, effortlessly charming anduntouchable. Meg had had a secret crush on him for months, admiring the way hemade everyone laugh, the way he answered questions in class, the easyconfidence in his smile. But of course, someone like Brian? He would nevernotice someone like her.
And yet,today, as she turned a corner toward her first class, she caught him glancingat her. His brown eyes met hers for a second too long, and she quickly lookedaway, cheeks heating.
Okay,calm down, Meg. It’s just a glance, she told herself, fumbling with herbooks.
Shetucked the mysterious letter safely into her backpack. Something told herself thiswas the start of something… unusual. Something important.
As sheslid into her seat in class, Cindy leaned over. “Hey, Meg. You look like youjust lost a trophy. Are you still thinking about the future letter”
Megshook her head with a grin and whispered. “It’s so strange…. How can yourfuture self send you a mail”
Cindy leanedin and whispered “Maybe it’s a prank…. You know, that’s the trend nowadays.
Meg gavean unsure look. “I’m … not sure. But I hope so”
Theteacher started class, and Meg opened her notebook. Yet, despite trying tofocus, her mind kept drifting back to that single envelope. Who wrotethis? And why will they say that… she trailed off.
Bylunchtime, Meg felt she needed to understand it better. She pulled the notefrom her bag again, reading it under the cafeteria table as Cindy and Mandychatted nearby. Her heartbeat quickened at the strange certainty in the words.
“Bebrave.”
Megtucked the letter away and looked up. The lunchroom buzzed with chatter,students moving around. Her eyes caught Brian again, talking to his friends.She quickly looked down, blushing as her heart skipped a beat.
Maybe…maybe this letter is trying to tell me something about him or literally anyonehere, she thought as she was glancing through the cafeteria as if looking for alost item.
And as she folded the letter back into her bag, a flicker of something exciting, curiosity,anticipation, and maybe the hint of adventure — settled deep in her chest. She had no idea how much her life was about to change.
