Budding Vibly Conversations

"Good morning, Siri. Hope you slept well"

"Maybe you'd still even be asleep by now"

"Oh Happy Sunday to you also"

I messaged, my thumbs dancing across the screen, I greeted her as the clock had just struck 11:36 PM. In Thai time, it was 5:36 AM, a realization that the time difference made her early morning an entirely different dimension from my own.

Still, I couldn't resist sending a good morning message, even though she had directly told me not to bother. It was an effort to build a bond, to bridge the gap in time zones, and connect over the miles that separated us.

My almost mid-night presence on my phone was primarily due to my writing. I had been engrossed in a new project, crafting a novel that delved into the story of my life.

In my journey as a writer, I had birthed countless fictional characters, breathed life into imaginative worlds, and penned stories that resonated with readers. Yet, it was time to shift the spotlight to my own life's narrative. The storyline was promising, drawing from my experiences and emotions, but as an introvert by nature, it lacked the necessary spark to deliver an epic theme. It was a challenge that simmered on the horizon, a creative endeavor I knew I would need to tackle in the days to come.

But for now, as I lay in the late-night glow of my phone screen, it was time to surrender to the embrace of sleep, to recharge for the day ahead.

***

A subtle PinG disrupted the silence.

Vibly** 3:19 AM

"I was deep asleep, lmao,"

"My plan for Sunday morning was to sleep in, which is a very good plan."

"My week was pretty stressful, i was running around grabbing documents for my visa between three different offices"

"And the weather was so hot here. So migraine happened, lmao."

Siri's message had arrived in the dark hours of the night. Her humor evident even in the digital realm. Her week had evidently been a rollercoaster ride, filled with the demands of bureaucracy and the sweltering heat of her location.

As I read her words, I couldn't help but chuckle. Siri had a way of infusing humor into the everyday challenges, a trait I admired.

We were worlds apart, separated by time zones and miles, but in the realm of messages and conversations, we found a bridge that allowed us to traverse the expanse between us.

As the night enveloped me, I couldn't help but wonder how our stories would continue to intertwine, crafting a narrative unique to us, bound by the digital thread of communication.

I texted back almost immediately, the message from Siri had arrived catching me in the midst of a writing session.

"Visa? Are you planning on traveling out of the country?"

I had managed to grab almost four hours of continuous sleep earlier, which I considered the first half of my night.

However, my writing had pulled me back from slumber, and that's when her message appeared. I was more than willing to indulge in a conversation with her, my late-night companion.

"Yeah, I'm going to a university exchange program abroad. So I'm working on the documents."

"Wait you are awake, isn't it like 3 am in Nigeria right now?"

"That's really early, you should go back to sleep"

What a coincidence, so you would be traveling out of your country in a bid to further your education.

Okay, I should just play along; you might be excited about this trip, and I wouldn't want to put a damper on the topic.

"It's so cool to travel out of the country, especially for the first time,"

"Not that I have yet, though."

"Lol, I had just woken up when your messages came in, plus I already had a good sleep earlier"

My response was genuine, even though I didn't want to be compelled or pressured to continue my education abroad. If I were to leave my country, it would be on my own terms.

Yea yea I'm a night owl, I know.

PinG**vibly 4:01 am

"Oh ok"

"So If you could go anywhere in the world"

"Like not considering anything about money"

"Where would it be"

She inquired, introducing an intriguing question. I considered her query, knowing that the allure of foreign lands often came tinged with financial concerns.

"Ummm, anywhere in the world? Well, it's kind of hard not to consider money when traveling"

"But I can say, if it's for educational purposes or job hunting, I personally prefer America (USA or Canada) and the UK. If it's for a vacation or sightseeing, then it would be France, Paris and Asia, Japan."

I replied thoughtfully. The mere thought of the Land of the Rising Sun brought a smile to my face. I couldn't help but add a touch of humor to my response.

"I can't speak French or Japanese though, best I know is 'bonjour' and 'konichiwa,' so I hope it won't be a solo vacation."

"There are other locations, but not as intriguing as these. What about you, where would you go?"

The digital world had allowed us to share our aspirations, to paint our dreams with words. Despite the physical distance that separated us, we could explore each other's desires and uncover the stories that shaped our ambitions.

"I can confirm Japan is a very good choice for traveling,"

"I've been to Japan, but I would go there again and again."

"If I could choose wherever I want to live in the world, I'd say New Zealand."

Siri's response offered another glimpse into her world, drawing us closer in a realm where distance was but a fleeting concept.

"This is nice,"

"I've never really had a reason to think about Austria recently."

"It's a really wonderful island, the smallest continent, a lovely choice,"

"New Zealand is a beautiful place, sweet spot."

I replied, expressing my interest in our budding conversation about travel destinations. I was curious about her selection of New Zealand and inquired,

"Why New Zealand? Any specific reason?"

She explained her choice with a sense of calm and serenity.

"I think New Zealand is a very peaceful place, you know. I mean, I love big cities, but I would appreciate something quiet, and the people there are very nice."

As her response unfolded, I couldn't help but feel a connection. Her appreciation for tranquility resonated with me, and it seemed we had similar interests in peaceful, serene places. I was about to respond with a new question, when a PinG came in,

"Oh, I forgot to ask, why did you choose Japan, though?"

I provided my reasoning for Japan, and my words painted a vivid picture.

"Because of Tokyo! Yes, it's a busy city, but it's a pretty good location for a trip."

It has a lovely culture, not to mention great sights."

"Plus, I love anime movies a lot, and I've seen a lot of locations I'd definitely want to see in real life."

"How's your Sunday going?"

We continued to exchange messages, and I felt a sense of delight as our conversation flowed effortlessly.

she inquired, her message arriving in a cheerful tone. It was clear that she was enjoying our extended conversation as she shared her Sunday activities with me,

"Yeah, doing amazing. My younger cousins came to visit me, so I've been playing hide and seek with them the whole morning."

"What about you? Any plans for today Sunday?"

Her question made me think about today, Sunday. Although we were only six hours into the day, I recalled that I had to attend the opening of a friend's house later.

I had already set a reminder on my phone, but her question had done the job for me even before my alarm.

Our lengthy conversation had taken an engaging and enjoyable turn, making me appreciate the serendipity of our interaction.