It’s been seven days since he left.

I counted.

Not because I was keeping track.

But because every day felt longer without him.

The first day back at school was the hardest.

Everything looked the same… but nothing felt the same.

The seat beside mine was empty.

The one he always slouched in.

The one where he’d rest his head and pretend to snore during math.

I stared at it for too long that morning.

Long enough for my friend Neha to ask,

“Are you okay?”

I smiled.

That same fake, practiced smile I had been wearing since the day he said goodbye.

“Yeah, just sleepy,” I whispered.

But inside…

I was wide awake.

Awake to the silence.

Awake to the fact that the laughter that used to fill my world was gone.

In the canteen, I sat at our usual spot.

Half of my sandwich untouched, like always — I used to save it for him.

He never asked.

He just knew I would.

And now?

Now I eat alone.

Talk less.

Smile more… because that’s what people expect.

But no one knows how heavy silence can get when you're used to hearing someone’s voice every day.

No one knows how hard it is to pretend you’re fine when the one person who made everything okay… isn’t there anymore.

After school, I walked to our tree.

The one behind the old building.

Still there. Still quiet. Still ours.

I sat down beneath it, hugging my knees, trying not to cry.

But a tear slipped anyway.

Just one.

I pulled out a tiny piece of paper from my notebook and wrote:

“Hey.

I hope you’re smiling wherever you are…

because I’m not.”

I folded it.

Placed it near the roots.

And whispered to the wind, hoping it would carry my words to him.

Because even though he’s not here...

My heart still is.

---

End of Chapter 2