☄⋆☄

2014

"I'm leaving, Adarsh." Nakshatra stifled a cry, tears gushing out of her eyes. She looked thoroughly tired. Her face puffed after hours of crying, and her stomach growled in hunger. She didn't quite remember the last meal she had taken.

The seventeen-year-old boy who stood facing her mirrored her feelings. Another thought about her leaving, he'd be undone in vulnerability. An involuntary spasm of fear—the fear of losing her—kicked him right where it hurts the most, his heart.

The familiar colourful terrace was dull and void of its usual happiness and laughter. The atmosphere was bland and filled with ache and unspoken feelings. The stars in the sky looked dull. Either the stars didn't perform the nuclear reaction like they used to, or the visions were blurred by tears.

"You don't have to. We can face this together. I'll be with you no matter what. No matter what others say. Don't leave us like this. Don't leave me like this. Don't put a full stop before we even start the sentence." Adarsh sounded dreadful and tired.

The words only earned a yelp from the girl. She looked at him in his eyes.

One last time.

She scanned his face, from his unruly hair to his eyes where tears were about to pour anytime soon, to the small scar and a dimple on his right cheek. She wanted to ingrain everything about him in her brain.

She couldn't take the bridge of space between them anymore and closed the distance by taking refuge in his arms. She hugged him tightly, so tightly. His heartbeat thrummed against her ear. She let the moment continue just for a few seconds before she pulled away.

"I'm sorry."

With that she disappeared. Down the stairs. Away from the midnight blue night sky. Away from him.

The warmth of her hug slowly got replaced by coldness. Coldness of the winter night.

☄⋆☄