Episode 25
1116 Words
The morning sun filtered softly through Karla’s bedroom window, casting a gentle glow on the cluttered desk strewn with papers, pens, and her laptop. Today was important — the interview with the Milan author team was only a day away . Karla sat poised , surrounded by her notes, rehearsing answers under her breath , but despite the external calm , inside her emotions churned like a restless sea .
She felt sad — a lingering ache that hadn’t left her since Christopher’s silence had grown cold . It wasn’t just the absence of his messages or the missed calls ; it was the brutal confirmation she found that morning . She had picked up her phone, heart fluttering with hope, only to find his name missing from her contacts and social media lists . Christopher had blocked her everywhere .
The phone sat heavy in her palm, the screen blank except for the painful truth . She swallowed hard , eyes brimming with unshed tears . It felt like a final wall between them — one she hadn’t expected to face so soon , especially when all she wanted was one last conversation, one chance to understand why .
Karla’s fingers trembled slightly as she set the phone down and closed her eyes . * Why did it have to end like this ? * she wondered .
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Meanwhile , in a dimly lit room several hours away, Christopher sat alone on a worn-out couch , his own phone resting face down on the table . The glow of the city outside filtered through the window , but inside , he felt trapped in a darkness of his own making .
Blocking Karla — that impulsive decision — hadn’t brought the peace he thought it would. Instead, it had opened the floodgates to an overwhelming tide of negative thoughts . The silence from her side wasn’t peaceful . It was deafening .
He rubbed his temples , replaying their last few interactions like a broken record . Her face haunted his mind — the hurt in her eyes , the way she looked so fragile yet fiercely brave . He hadn’t wanted to lose her , but the boundaries he’d sworn to uphold as a teacher , the fear of crossing lines , and the painful self-doubt had tangled him in knots .
His phone buzzed , jolting him from his thoughts . It was Armaan .
* “ Hey , bro. We need to talk . ” *
Christopher sighed and picked up .
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Later , at a quiet pub where the low murmur of conversation was punctuated by the clink of glasses , Christopher and Armaan met . Armaan poured himself a drink and looked at his friend with a knowing gaze .
“ Man , blocking her is the best for now , its good for both you , it will take time to move on .... " Armaan said gently .
Christopher shook his head, frustration clear in his voice . “ It’s worse. I miss her more than ever. It feels like I’ve lost everything . ”
Armaan leaned back , exhaling . “ Bro, you’ve got to divert your mind . Focus on something else . Girls , work, anything . You can’t keep torturing yourself like this . ”
Christopher’s jaw tightened . “ I don’t want to hurt anyone else , Armaan . Especially not her . I crossed the line already , and now I’m paying for it . ”
Armaan’s expression softened . “ You’re human , man . Everyone makes mistakes . But if you keep punishing yourself , you’ll never find peace . And neither will she . ”
Christopher nodded slowly , the weight of the conversation sinking in .
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Back in her room , Karla tried to focus on the interview prep . She flipped through articles , made notes on writing techniques , and practiced answering typical questions about creativity and perseverance . Yet her mind kept wandering back to Christopher .
She remembered the way he smiled when they first connected, his teasing questions on social media , and the deep conversations they had shared . Despite his faults , she had fallen deeply for him — something she couldn’t easily erase .
Her phone buzzed — a notification from a mutual friend’s story — a photo of Christopher laughing at a party, surrounded by a group of girls .
Her heart clenched. Jealousy and confusion gnawed at her .
*Is he really moving on that fast?* she wondered bitterly.
She typed a message to Jenna, her closest confidante.
*“Jenna, I don’t know what to do. He blocked me, but I still can’t stop thinking about him.”*
Jenna’s reply was quick and comforting.
*“You’re stronger than you think. Focus on your future, Karla. This interview is your chance. You deserve happiness — with or without him.”*
Karla smiled weakly, appreciating the support. She wiped her tears away and returned to her notes, determined to make the most of this opportunity.
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Across town, Christopher’s phone vibrated again. A message from Armaan.
*“Come out with us tonight. Forget her, at least for a few hours.”*
Christopher hesitated but eventually agreed.
The night was loud and chaotic, a stark contrast to his inner turmoil. Surrounded by friends and strangers alike, he laughed and drank, but the shadow of Karla lingered just beyond the noise.
Armaan nudged him. “You can’t erase her, man. But you can choose how you live with it.”
Christopher looked out the window, the city lights blurred by the rain. He knew Armaan was right. He had to find a way to heal — not just for Karla, but for himself.
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The next morning, Karla woke up early, heart heavy but mind clearer.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror and whispered, “This is your moment. For you.”
Her fingers hovered over her phone, tempted to reach out to Christopher one last time — to ask him why, to tell him she still cared.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she typed a quick message to the author team, confirming her interview schedule and thanking them for the opportunity.
The phone sat beside her, silent.
Somewhere, Christopher stared at his own phone, contemplating the same silence.
Two hearts, separated by fear and mistakes, both yearning for a second chance they weren’t sure they deserved.
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- Writer
