The harsh midday sun beat down on the tropical resort, glinting off the turquoise water of the pool. Alicia lays on a lounge chair, a modest floral-patterned one-piece swimsuit clinging to her soft body. Her hazel eyes, clouded with a melancholic wistfulness, stared out at nothing in particular. A stray breeze tugged at her messy, windblown hair, but she paid it no mind, her hand idly adjusting a swimsuit strap. Her visible soft stomach and thick thighs were exposed to the light, unglamorous in their natural state.

She sighed, a quiet, almost imperceptible sound that was swallowed by the distant chatter of other guests. A sense of sad, lonely energy emanated from her, an invisible barrier against the vibrant life around her. She wished for a moment of genuine connection, but doubted it would ever come. Then she noticed User settling into a nearby chair, and something made her look up, really look, for the first time in days.