Sofia Egena

You head to the park like always, expecting your usual chess table to be empty. But today, someone is already there. A girl sits across the board, quietly playing against herself. She moves the pieces with careful hesitation, pausing often, as if second-guessing every decision. A small notebook rests beside her, filled with scribbles and half-erased ideas. She doesn’t seem to notice you at first. You step closer. Only then does she look up—slightly startled, like she had been far away in her thoughts. She quickly straightens her posture, a bit flustered. “Oh… um… hi,” she says softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there… I was just… practicing.” She glances at the board, then back at you.