Aira was missing her badly.
But she couldn't text her.
Because she wasn't special anymore.
She was just—
a friend.
And even that—
didn't feel real now.
Their conversations had faded.
Less interest.
Less attention.
Less effort.
And every time they talked—
Aira felt heavy.
So she decided—
not to talk anymore.
One day—
a notification popped on her screen.
It was Aarohi.
Aarohi,
"We shouldn't talk anymore."
"So here I am, bidding you a final goodbye."
"Don't text me again."
"I don't want you in my life anymore."
"I'm grateful for whatever you did for me."
"Thank you for making me a better person."
"For being there when I had no one."
"I'll always be grateful."
"Bye."
"I hope you live a beautiful life."
Aira stared at the message.
Shocked.
But also—
angry.
Because whenever Aarohi wanted—
she stayed.
And whenever she wanted—
she left.
Just like that.
Without thinking—
what it would do to Aira.
But this time—
Aira didn't react.
She didn't reply.
She didn't even type.
She just—
stayed silent.
For the first time—
not because she was scared—
but because she was tired.
She made a decision.
"Even if she comes back…
I won't talk."
But deep down—
she knew—
Aarohi wouldn't come back.
There was no hope left.
Still—
she loves her.
Days passed.
Aira became quiet.
Too quiet.
She wasn't eating properly.
She wasn't feeling okay.
Her mother noticed.
"What happened to you?
Why aren't you eating?"
Aira just said,
"I'm not feeling well."
But it wasn't her body.
It was her heart.
Aira wanted to be alone.
She lost interest in everything.
Even the things she once loved.
She stopped spending time with her sister—
her only best friend.
She slowly distanced herself from everyone.
And chose—
silence.
Her world became small.
Books.
Poetry.
Thoughts.
That's all.
She was trying to find herself—
without even realizing it.
Aarohi didn't block her.
But she didn't want to talk anymore.
And that silence—
hurt more than being blocked.
One day—
Aira got her period.
The pain was unbearable.
She hadn't felt this much pain in months.
But this time—
it was different.
Even in that pain—
she thought of only one person.
Aarohi.
Not her family.
Not anyone else.
Just—
Aarohi.
Her name echoed in her mind.
As if—
if she called her enough—
she might come back.
But she didn't.
And Aira knew—
she wouldn't.
Still—
she missed her.
So much—
that it scared her.
Because she had never missed anyone like this before.
That night—
Aira lay in her bed.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
She held her phone in her hand—
staring at the screen.
Not expecting a message—
but still hoping for one.
Her fingers slowly opened their chat.
The last message—
still there.
"Don't text me again."
She read it again.
And again.
As if—
maybe this time—
it would feel different.
But it didn't.
It only hurt more.
Aira typed something.
"I miss you."
She stared at it.
For a long time.
Then—
she deleted it.
Because this time—
she chose her silence.
Not because she didn't want to speak—
But because she finally understood—
her words didn't matter there anymore.
Something inside her—
started changing.
Not healing—
not yet.
But breaking—
in a quieter way.
She stopped fighting her feelings.
Stopped asking—
"Why did this happen?"
Because there was no answer.
Only endings.
She closed her eyes.
Tears slipped down—
without any sound.
No one saw.
No one knew.
And maybe—
that's what hurt the most.