The world didn't change.
That was the most terrifying part.
Everything was normal.
Too normal.
Students laughed in the hallways. Teachers explained lessons. Phones rang. Life moved forward—unbothered.
Unaffected.
As if nothing was wrong.
As if he was the only thing that didn't belong.
Ayaan sat alone on the staircase leading to the rooftop, his hands tightly gripping his phone.
"I exist…"
He whispered it under his breath, like a fragile truth he was trying to hold onto.
"I'm real."
But the words felt weak.
Unconvincing.
He had tried everything.
Talking. Shouting. Standing in front of people. Even knocking over a chair.
No reaction.
No acknowledgment.
Nothing.
"I'm not invisible…" he muttered. "They can see me… right?"
But even that felt uncertain now.
Ayaan clenched his jaw and stood up suddenly.
"Fine. If no one listens…"
His eyes hardened.
"I'll force someone to notice."
He walked back into the crowded corridor, his heartbeat loud in his ears. Students passed by like waves, brushing against him, never stopping.
Then—
He saw her.
She stood near the window, sunlight falling softly across her face. Her hair moved slightly with the breeze, and her eyes were focused on something distant.
Calm.
Different.
For some reason…
She didn't feel like part of the noise.
Ayaan took a step toward her.
Then another.
Something about her presence felt… stable.
Grounded.
Like reality itself was slightly stronger around her.
"Hey," he said.
No response.
He hesitated.
Then stepped closer.
"Can you hear me?"
The girl blinked.
Her eyes shifted slightly—
Not directly at him.
But close.
Too close.
Ayaan froze.
"…Wait."
She turned her head a little.
Her brows furrowed faintly, like she was trying to focus on a blurry object.
"…Is someone there?" she murmured.
Ayaan's heart skipped.
"She heard me…"
"I'm here!" he said quickly, stepping right in front of her. "Right in front of you!"
The girl stared ahead, confusion flickering across her face.
"I feel like…" she whispered slowly, "…I'm forgetting something."
Ayaan's chest tightened.
"No—don't forget. Please don't forget."
For the first time since everything started—
someone reacted.
Even if just a little.
"What's your name?" Ayaan asked desperately.
"If you remember my name… I won't disappear."
He didn't know why he said that.
But it felt true.
The girl closed her eyes.
Concentrating.
As if searching through something deeper than memory.
"Ay…" she whispered faintly.
Ayaan stepped closer.
"Yes… yes! Keep going!"
"Ay… aa…"
Hope surged inside him.
Strong.
Bright.
Alive.
"Ayaan!" he said quickly. "My name is Ayaan!"
"Say it! Please—just say it!"
The girl's lips parted.
"Ay—"
And then—
Silence.
Her expression went blank.