Born With A Curse

** Chapter 6: A Birthday in Silence**

January 31st, 2018.

It was Meera’s 17th birthday, but instead of the usual celebrations and cake, she found herself at the edge of a hill, far from her home. The wind whistled softly around her, carrying the scent of the nearby river and the distant rustle of trees. Meera sat alone, her back hunched slightly as she gazed out over the vast expanse of nature, her thoughts as heavy as the clouds that rolled across the sky.

Birthdays didn’t feel like something to celebrate anymore, not for her. She had grown tired of the forced cheer, the empty well-wishes, the silence that always followed when the noise of the party died down. So, she had chosen to spend this one alone. With her earplugs in, Meera let the music drown out the world. Her notebook lay open on her lap, a pen resting between her fingers, as she scribbled down the raw emotions that threatened to consume her. Writing was her only solace, her escape. Through the words, she felt lighter, as if each stroke of the pen took a bit of the weight off her shoulders.

Meera wasn’t just an ordinary teenager; she was an author, a poet, someone who lived through her words. Her writing was an expression of the pain she carried within her, and on this birthday, she poured herself into the pages like she always did.

But then, her phone buzzed, breaking the quiet. The notification tone startled her, and she pulled out her phone to check the message. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the name—Reyansh.

A year had passed since they reconnected, but lately, Meera had been pulling away.

She couldn’t explain why—not even to herself. Yet seeing his name on the screen filled her with a rush of emotions. Without another thought, she packed her things and began the long walk back home.