People move on.

But what if your heart stays stuck in yesterday?

It’s been three weeks.

Vivaan’s name isn’t mentioned much anymore.

Not by teachers.

Not by classmates.

Not even by the bench that once held his books and laughter.

I thought missing someone was loud — like sobbing, or screaming into a pillow.

But it’s not.

It’s quiet.

It’s walking into a classroom and feeling something missing but not knowing what to say.

It’s smiling when people ask, “How are you now?”

Because they think you should be okay by now.

I sit with Neha now, and a couple of other girls.

They talk about new shows, new crushes, exam tension.

I laugh with them sometimes.

I nod. I listen.

But inside, I feel like I’m watching from behind a glass wall — seeing the world move on without me.

And worst of all...

I’m scared.

Scared that every passing day is taking him a little farther away from me.

Scared that I’ll forget the sound of his voice.

That I won’t remember the exact shade of his eyes.

That someday, his memory will stop making my chest hurt — and that hurts more.

After school, I walk to the old tree again.

It’s still there.

Still waiting for someone who won’t return.

But the note I left there…

It’s gone.

The wind must’ve taken it.

Or maybe the earth swallowed it.

Either way… it’s like a piece of me vanished with it.

I sat down and pulled out my phone.

My fingers hovered over a folder labeled “V”.

Inside — only five photos.

One video.

I played it.

His voice crackled through the speaker:

"Aarohi, stop recording! You look like a ghost when you zoom in that much—hey! Don’t laugh!"

And just like that... I laughed.

For real.

For the first time in weeks.

Tears welled up too — because it felt like he was right there.

Alive, loud, and mine.

But when the video ended, so did that feeling.

I hugged my knees and whispered to the tree:

"I won’t forget you, Vivaan. Not today. Not ever."

Because even if the world forgets you…

I never will.

End of Chapter 3