The clock on her bedside table blinked 1:19 a.m.
Kang Yeri sat cross-legged under her blanket, phone glowing in her hands. Her friends had sent her a link earlier that evening - a site called Love:119, a hotline for "hearts in distress."
People called it a dating hotline, but others said it was just a place to talk.
Half out of curiosity, half out of boredom, Yeri clicked Call.
The dial tone lasted barely two seconds before a calm voice answered:
> "This is Love:119. I'm Martin. What's your emergency?"
Her breath hitched.
> "Um... it's not really an emergency. I just... couldn't sleep."
> "That's okay," he said, voice low, soothing. "Maybe you don't need sleep - maybe you just need someone to listen."
They talked for ten minutes about nothing and everything - school, late-night ramen, favorite songs to cry to.
When the call ended, Yeri found herself smiling into the dark.
And when she checked her screen, the call duration read:
11 minutes, 9 seconds.
11:9.
Love:119.
