Born With A Curse

**Chapter 14: The Lingering Absence**

Back in the present, Meera sighed, opening her eyes as the memories faded away. She had tried for so long to forget that day, to forget the pain of losing her best friend without even having the chance to say a proper goodbye. For years, she had carried the ache of his absence, wondering what had happened to him, where he had gone, and why he had never reached out.

It wasn’t until they reconnected on social media that she finally had some answers. Yet, even now, despite their renewed friendship, that sense of loss hadn’t fully disappeared. The ten years that had passed between them still haunted her, like a shadow hanging over their conversations.

Though they were talking again, something was missing. The simplicity of their childhood bond had been replaced with the complexities of growing up. Meera knew her feelings for Reyansh had changed, deepened, and she wondered if he felt the same. But the fear of losing him again kept her from saying anything.

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**Chapter 15: The Question Unasked**

Meera stared at her phone, her fingers trembling over the keyboard. She wanted to ask him—why he had never come back, why he hadn’t tried to find her. But every time she typed out the words, she deleted them. Part of her was scared that his answer would break her heart all over again.

Instead, she sent him a simple message: **"I’ve been thinking about us lately. Do you remember the last day of school?"**

As she waited for his response, Meera’s thoughts drifted back to that classroom, where the young boy had promised to draw a better picture of them. She realized now that there had been no need for a perfect drawing. The picture of their friendship had already been etched into her heart, imperfect but lasting.

Her phone buzzed, and Reyansh’s reply flashed on her screen: **"Of course I remember. I’ve thought about it a lot too. There’s something I need to tell you, Meera."**

Her heart raced as she read his message. Was this the moment she had been waiting for? Would Reyansh finally tell her how he felt, or would the past continue to stand between them?

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