The Silent Heart

By Annwesha Mukherjee

The sound of their laughter echoed through the empty street. She snorted so hard that it made him laugh even more. Everything felt so perfect - the moon shining bright, the dark and peaceful night with the flickering street lamps. If only time could stop and cameras could capture memories accurately.

They continued walking and going on with their conversation but the girl’s heart was restless and the boy could sense that. After years of trying to get close to him, her pinning and anticipation brought her to this very moment. She was going to tell him that she didn't want to be friends anymore. She liked him, really liked him and yearned to be something more. She wanted to be his and him to be hers. Reflecting back on all those precious memories she had of them together she thought how they weren't always very perfect but she wouldn't change them for the world…..

He was telling her something about a funny incident he witnessed, she laughed and looked at him- his impossibly messy hair, lively eyes and his stupid grin. She loved all of him- his insecurity, innocence, self doubt, lack of awareness, fears, dreams, hope, the emotional baggage he carried everything even his eccentric laughter which sounded a lot like a demon’s. She saw all his flaws and accepted him with them. He had shown her a side of him no one saw.

She opened her mouth to begin but he burst out sharing with her another treasured experience. She smiled, how cute was he when he got so excited. He finished by saying “Sorry, you wanted to say something?”. She stopped, so did he, she looked into his eyes. This was it. She was going to say what was in her heart for him. His eyes were so beautiful that it was difficult to not get lost in them. She opened her mouth but all that came out was “I……..…”. Something stopped her. It dawned on her that she loved him but he had already given a name to their relationship. She was never going to be the girl in his head, he was never going to love her back the same way. After realising this, her soul cried internally but she hid it like she always did. Indeed they were meant to be but not in that way, she could never make him happy that way. If she confessed she would ruin the relationship forever and if she said nothing then she could walk away remembering this night to be perfect and their friendship intact.

He said “ You….?”. “ I just wish this night would never end.” she replied. “It’s perfect isn't it?”. She smiled and blushed ever so slightly. They continued their walk and enjoyed each other’s presence before it came to an inevitable end.

She loved him………but that was the problem wasn't it. She couldn't be selfish with him and ruin their friendship. She wouldn't do that to him. She loved him so much that she let him go, she had to for the sake of his happiness she sacrificed her own…………

By Annwesha Mukherjee