Chapter 3 A Swipe Toward Hope

Bella stared at the glowing screen of her phone, her thumb hovering uncertainly over the download button. The soft hum of the ceiling fan filled the quiet of her small apartment, but all she could hear was Sonia's voice echoing in her mind.

"Just try it, Bella. Who knows? Maybe your soulmate is just a swipe away."

Bella sighed, the weight of loneliness pressing down on her chest. Nights like this always seemed the hardest-the apartment felt too empty, too silent. Jason's betrayal still lingered like a bruise on her heart, and although she told herself she was fine, the ache of wanting someone genuine hadn't gone away.

Reluctantly, she tapped the button. The app began to download, the loading circle spinning as if mocking her hesitation. Within moments, it was ready. She opened it, blinking at the bright welcome screen that promised "Real connections. Real love."

We'll see about that, she thought wryly.

She began filling in her details:

Name: Bella.

Age: 26.

Location: Florida.

When it came to writing a bio, she hesitated again. What could she possibly say that wouldn't attract the wrong attention? After a moment, she typed: "I love to cook, enjoy sunsets, and I'm looking for something real-not games."

She glanced at herself in the mirror across the room. The woman who stared back at her had been through so much. Her dark curls framed her face, soft but wild at the edges. Her brown eyes, though weary, still held a flicker of hope-a tiny ember refusing to be snuffed out by disappointment.

Bella lifted her phone, angling it just right, and took three quick selfies. The first with a soft smile, the second with a playful tilt of her head, and the third more serious, thoughtful. She studied each one, trying to see herself through the eyes of a stranger, and uploaded them to her profile.

Here goes nothing, she thought as she tapped "Submit."

The minutes ticked by slowly. She lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if this had been a mistake.

Then-ping!

A message.

She picked up the phone. Andrew - New York.

Curiosity won out over caution. She opened the chat.

Andrew: Hi baby, you look so sweet.

Bella blinked at the message, lips twitching into a polite, if guarded, smile.

Bella: Thank you.

Andrew: You're welcome. Can you send some of your naughty pictures? If you do, I'll reward you. I promise you, baby.

Her smile faded instantly. Disgust washed over her, mingling with disappointment. Really? That's the first thing he says?

She shook her head, muttering aloud, "That's not what I want."

Still, her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Out of sheer annoyance, she typed:

Bella: Ok, I will.

The reply came fast.

Andrew: So sweet of you. I'm waiting, baby.

Without another thought, she hit the block button. The chat disappeared into the void, leaving Andrew waiting for pictures that would never come.

Bella exhaled sharply, as if trying to blow away the sour taste of that exchange. She set her phone down but it vibrated again almost immediately-three more notifications.

Dave - Mexico.

Ajit - India.

Mark - California.

She hesitated, then opened Dave's message first.

His profile photo showed an older man with gray hair and kind, crinkled eyes. His age, displayed boldly at the top, said sixty-eight. Not at all what she'd envisioned when she signed up, but she didn't want to be rude.

Dave: Hi princess.

Bella rubbed the back of her neck, trying to decide how to respond.

Bella: Good day, sir.

Dave: You are just exactly like an angel. I'm from Mexico. And you?

Bella: Florida.

Dave: Wow. Can I be your lover? I mean... can you marry me?

A laugh burst out of her before she could stop it-half amusement, half disbelief. A marriage proposal already?

Bella: No, I can't, sir. Sorry.

She didn't wait for more. With a sigh, she blocked him too.

Next, Ajit.

His profile picture was of a blurry landscape. No face, no smile-just trees and a cloudy sky.

Ajit: Hi baby.

Bella: Hi, good day.

Ajit: How are you doing? I hope you are good.

Bella: Yeah. Where are you chatting from?

Ajit: India. You are actually so beautiful. Can we do a sex video call to satisfy each other?

Bella groaned, rubbing her temples. The audacity.

Bella: Okay.

As soon as the call notification popped up, she ended it and blocked him too, not even waiting for the connection to go through.

What is wrong with these people? she wondered, frustration gnawing at her.

Finally, she opened Mark's message. She steeled herself, hoping-please, just be normal.

Mark: Hi.

Bella: Hello.

Mark: Good day.

Bella: Good day.

Mark: What's up with you?

Bella: Good, and you?

Mark: What do you have for me?

Her brow furrowed. What did he mean by that?

Bella: Like...?

Before she could finish her thought, the chat vanished. Mark had blocked her.

She stared at the screen, dumbfounded. What do I have for him?

Bella sat on the edge of her bed, heart heavy. Each exchange left her feeling more disillusioned. She felt as though she'd been standing at the edge of a cliff, hoping to see the sunrise, only to watch storm clouds gather instead.

"This is not what I wanted," she whispered to herself.

Her thumb hovered over the uninstall button. She was ready to delete the app, delete the hope that had pushed her to try.

But then-ding.

Another notification.

Raymond - London.

Something made her pause. One last chance, she thought. If this one is the same, I'm done.

She opened it.

Raymond: Hi, good afternoon.

Bella: Good afternoon.

Raymond: How are you doing?

Bella: I'm good, and you?

Raymond: Great.

She glanced at his profile picture. A black man, probably in his late twenties, with warm eyes and a genuine smile. There was a softness to his expression that eased some of the tension in her chest.

Bella: Please, where are you chatting from?

Raymond: London. And you?

Bella: Florida.

Raymond: Nice meeting you.

Bella: You are welcome.

Raymond: What do you do for a living?

Bella: I'm a chef. And you?

Raymond: A waiter. I work in a restaurant here in London.

Bella: Ok.

Raymond: Can we be friends?

Bella: Sure, we can.

A real smile tugged at her lips.

Raymond: Ok, thank you. You look so beautiful.

Bella: Thank you so much. And you look cute.

Raymond: Thank you. Do you live alone?

Bella: No, I live with my best friend.

Raymond: Ok. Over here, I live with my mom. We're from a middle-class family.

Bella: Ok. I hope she's good.

Raymond: Yeah, she is. How are your parents?

Bella: They're good.

Raymond: Ok. Have you eaten?

Bella: Yes. And you?

Raymond: Yes. Please, let's chat later. There's a customer here-I have to answer him. Chat to you later. Have a nice day.

Bella: And you too.

She set the phone down, heart racing. The room felt brighter somehow, the sinking sun casting a warm glow across her bed. For the first time in weeks, a flicker of hope stirred inside her.

She picked up the phone again, fingers trembling slightly, and tried to call Sonia, eager to share the moment. No answer.

So Bella lay back, phone resting on her chest, a soft smile on her face. Maybe-just maybe-love wasn't a crime after all.

And for tonight, that was enough.