JKWriter's 100-word story for February 16, 2026

JKWriter wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on February 16, 2026. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

Most kids had cell phones, but he wasn't most kids. His parents had decided that he didn't need one and he was continuously teased because of it. Now here he was...lost and cold. Yes...he'd be using this moment the next time he would plead with them to reconsider. If he'd had a phone he wouldn't be in this mess. Something flickered in the distance. Was that a fire? Hoping so, the lad raced toward the light. To his surprise it wasn't a fire; it was a mysterious glowing box. It grew brighter with each step. What was it?

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