The corridors of the small school were alive with laughter. Ellara walked quietly, clutching her bag, feeling a little out of place. Students passed by, smiling, talking about their days, their friends, their families.
Why does everyone look so happy? she wondered, a small pang of loneliness settling in her chest. Do they even know how it feels to… be just me?
She found a quiet bench near the window and lay down, hugging her knees. Okay… I can think… I can tell this story to myself… just to make sense of it.
"I… I lived peacefully… until everything changed," she whispered, letting the words float into the empty space around her
"I have a granny who lives far away. I don't even know why, but she's… important. One day she came to visit, and we talked for a long time. She asked about my cousins, my siblings… and then… she asked about a boy named Kael."
Kael? I didn't know him… I didn't even want to know him. Why does his name feel so strange? She bit her lip. But Granny laughed and said he's someone important in my life… someone I'd meet one day…
---
After a few days, we were getting ready for a ceremony. My whole family was going—I didn't know why. It was very far away from my city. Once we reached there, I was stunned by the decorations. It was a huge hall, shining with bright lights against the night sky.
My mom guided me to a couch at the center. I just obeyed, but when I looked at her eyes… something about them had changed. There was a shawl stretched across the room with a small hole.
A girl attending the ceremony approached me. "Put your hand through the hole, please," she said.
I hesitated, but slowly slid my hand in. After a few moments, pain crept up my arm. I tried to pull it back. Why do I have to do this? This… isn't right…
Around me, people started coming forward, blessing me, clapping, whispering congratulations. The sound rose to a deafening crescendo. What… what is happening? My chest tightened, panic flickering.
I tried again to withdraw my hand, but a firm grip caught mine. I froze. Who…?
"Does it hurt?" a calm, gentle voice asked.
I looked up slightly. " Y- yes". Why is he so calm?
Through the hole, I couldn't see his face but I can see his eyes that Blue Eyes . He sat quietly, holding my hand just firmly enough to keep it in place. Why… is he… holding me like this?
He spoke softly. "Do you know what this ceremony is for?"
I shook my head, heart thudding. "N-no… I don't… I don't know.
He let out a small sigh. "I know what's happening… but I can't… change it."
I don't even know him… why does he sound so calm? My fingers twitched against his hand, but I didn't dare pull away.
We sat there, silence stretching between us. My arm was starting to ache. Is he… going to let go…? I glanced sideways. I… should ask…
"What's your name?" I whispered, half-defiant, half-curious
He laughed quietly , then said, almost like a secret: "Kael "
Kael… My breath caught. The boy Granny mentioned…
He squeezed my hand gently. "It's going to be alright… everything will be alright. You just have to stay calm… don't panic."
Alright… I'll try… I whispered back, though my heart raced uncontrollably.
The blessings and claps grew louder around us. I tried to pull my hand back again, but Kael's grip was firm. Slowly, carefully, he brought my hand toward himself… and slide a ring into my finger.
Shock and disbelief froze me. The applause intensified, echoing in my chest. I still couldn't see Kael's full face, only the blue of his eyes, steady and composed. He held my hand with such calm precision that it was impossible to focus on anything else.
I glanced at my mother. Tears streamed down her face, quiet and heartfelt. Oh… now I understand… In that moment, the realization hit me—I had been engaged.
I stayed on that couch long after, letting it sink in. Everything's changed… my life… it was ordinary until now… and now… nothing is the same…
---
When I think about it my heart ache.... Its been 6 years...
Still I can remember his voice like yesterday. When I think about that day again and again. I hate him more and more.
Come to think of that I hate myself. He is coming .... Its time for us to see....