Awakened Pals

Upon receiving a sudden message from Ella, I paused the overly sentimental music assaulting my ears. Opening that message, all that was sent was a single picture―a typical selfie taken in front of a mirror.

Nothing was out of place in the photo, aside from one glaring detail.

"..."

Why was it white?

As if all colour had been sapped, just Ella's hair had lost its pigmentation entirely, including even the eyebrows for some reason.

Her long, dark hair, which had in fact never not been a shade of chestnut brown... Scratching my head, I casually replied to the picture.

[You: When did you age so much?]

Five seconds hadn't passed before that message was struck with a thumbs down reply, and the indicator of her typing something out started.

[Ella: Is that all you have to say?]

Scanning the message received just a few seconds later, I immediately replied.

[You: Do you want me to look for a home?]