Alice stepped out of the cab, her heart heavy despite the bright, sunny day. The vibrant energy of her college campus failed to lift her spirits. She walked briskly to her hostel, her suitcase trailing behind. The moment she entered her room, she saw Amile sitting on the bed, scrolling through her phone.
"Alice!" Amile exclaimed, jumping up with excitement. She embraced her friend tightly, but the moment she looked at Alice's face, her smile faded.
"What happened to you? You look so... unhappy," Amile said, concern filling her voice. "You just came back from home. Aren't you supposed to be happy? Did something happen? Did someone say something? Is everything okay with your family?"
Alice didn't answer. Her silence was deafening. Instead, she hugged Amile again, this time tighter, as if seeking solace in her friend's warmth. Finally, she whispered a single name.
"James…"
Amile froze. She pulled back slightly, searching Alice's eyes. "What about James?" she asked cautiously, her tone laced with worry.
Alice took a shaky breath, her voice breaking as she began to recount the incident. Each word seemed to weigh heavily on her as she shared the story of betrayal, heartbreak, and humiliation she had faced during her visit home. James, the one person she had trusted implicitly, had shattered her faith in him.
Amile listened intently, her expression shifting from shock to anger and then to sympathy. When Alice finished, tears streaming down her face, Amile placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Alice," Amile said softly, "you're stronger than this. He doesn't deserve your tears. We'll get through this together."
Alice nodded weakly, feeling a glimmer of hope in her friend's words. Though her heart was bruised, she realized she wasn't alone.
Alice's thoughts spiraled with guilt and uncertainty.
"Will William ever forgive me?" she wondered, her heart heavy. "I've hurt him so deeply—ignored him so many times, all for James. What if I've lost him forever?"
The thought of her actions weighed on her, each memory of William's kindness and patience intensifying her regret. Her heart ached with the realization that she had taken his presence for granted, blinded by her infatuation with James.
But a faint hope lingered. "Maybe... if I can show him how truly sorry I am, he might give me a chance to make things right."
Amile listened patiently to Alice's worries, her voice gentle but firm. "Alice, you won't know until you try. Sometimes, a simple call can change everything. He deserves to hear your apology directly from you."
Alice shook her head, her voice trembling. "No, Amile. It's been almost a month. I ignored him, rejected his calls, and now… he probably hates me. What if he doesn't even pick up? What if he's moved on?"
Amile placed a comforting hand on Alice's shoulder. "That's a risk you have to take. If you truly regret what you've done, it's worth trying. Even if he doesn't pick up, at least he'll know you tried. Isn't he worth that effort?"
Alice bit her lip, her mind torn between fear and guilt. Her heart whispered for her to reach out, but the voice of doubt screamed louder.
The night dragged on endlessly for Alice, her mind a storm of guilt and anticipation. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw William's face—his hurt expression when she last ignored him, and it filled her with regret. By the time the first rays of sunlight broke through her window, she felt drained but determined.
She dressed carefully, her heart pounding with both fear and hope. "Today, I'll make things right," she whispered to herself, clutching her bag tightly as she made her way to class.
When Alice entered the classroom, her eyes immediately searched for William. She spotted him sitting on a different bench, far from their usual spot. The sight struck her like a blow.
Her heart sank further when their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Just as quickly, William turned his face away, deliberately ignoring her. The coldness of his gesture pierced her deeply.
Alice stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do. The weight of her mistakes felt heavier than ever. She wanted to go to him, to say something, but her feet felt glued to the ground. All she could do was take her seat, her chest aching with the realization of how deeply she had hurt him.
Alice sat with Amile, trying to focus on her surroundings, but her eyes kept drifting toward William. He seemed different now—surrounded by new friends, laughing and talking as if the past month hadn't affected him. Seeing him like this tore at Alice's heart, each moment reminding her of what she had lost.
By lunchtime, Alice noticed that William was sitting alone, scrolling through his phone. Her heart raced. This was her chance to talk to him, to try and fix things. Gathering all her courage, she walked over to him.
"Hello, William. How are you?" she asked, her voice tentative and soft.
William didn't even look up. He continued scrolling through his phone as if she wasn't there.
The silence was unbearable, but Alice refused to give up. "William," she said again, her voice cracking, "Don't you want to talk to me?"
This time, he glanced at her, his eyes cold and distant. "Please go away," he said firmly. "Talk to your so-called James. I don't want to talk to you anymore, so stop disturbing me."
His words cut deep, leaving Alice speechless. She stood there, frozen, as his rejection sank in. Her chest tightened, and tears threatened to spill, but she fought to keep them at bay.
"William," she whispered, her voice trembling, "I'm sorry—"
But he interrupted her, his tone sharp. "Sorry doesn't change anything, Alice. Just leave me alone."
Alice stepped back, her heart shattering. She had hoped for a chance to make things right, but now it felt like that chance was slipping further and further away.
Alice couldn't concentrate on her studies the entire day. Her textbooks and notes sat in front of her, but the words blurred together as her thoughts spiraled out of control. Her mind was consumed with regret, replaying every moment she had ignored William for James.
She remembered the times William had always been there—his patience, his understanding, his quiet support. And yet, she had pushed him aside for someone who now seemed so insignificant in comparison.
The weight of her choices bore down on her like a storm. Not only had she lost the boy who had once been her best friend, but she had also broken the bond they had shared.
"Why did I let this happen?" she whispered to herself, her heart aching. The realization that William no longer liked her, that their friendship was likely lost forever, crushed her.
She wanted to turn back time, to undo everything, but she knew it was impossible. All she could do now was sit with the painful consequences of her choices, her regret becoming an unshakable shadow.
The next day, something unexpected happened to Alice—an experience she had never anticipated.
The words hit Alice like a thunderclap. One of her classmates casually mentioned it, but to Alice, it was anything but casual.
"Did you know?" the classmate had said. "William's in love with Ani. She joined last month in another stream. They're getting pretty close."
At first, Alice couldn't believe it. She stared at her classmate, hoping they were joking, but the look on their face told her it was true.
Her heart sank, and her face turned pale. She sat frozen in her seat, unable to process the news. Thoughts raced through her mind, each one more painful than the last.
"Is it really over? Did I lose him forever?" she thought, her chest tightening with regret and heartbreak.
She had hoped to fix things, to rebuild their friendship, but now it felt like the door to his heart was closed—and someone else had already walked in.
The next day, Alice's worst fears came to life. As she entered the campus, her eyes fell on William and Ani sitting together under the shade of a tree. They were talking, laughing, and completely absorbed in each other. The sight struck Alice like a sharp blade.
Her thoughts spiraled. "Why is my life like this? First James left me for my cousin sister, and now William... William is with Ani, right in front of my eyes. Do I just push everyone away? Am I not worth staying for?"
Her heart felt heavy with pain and regret.
The laughter she heard from William and Ani felt like echoes mocking her loss.
Alice sat quietly in her seat, her eyes staring blankly at her notebook. No matter how much she tried to distract herself, the pain refused to leave. It wasn't just losing William that hurt—it was losing the hope that she could make things right.
Alice wasn't aware that the pain she was feeling—deep, raw, and overwhelming—was only a prelude to something even more challenging that awaited her.
She still couldn't shake off the image of William and Ani, nor could she escape the spiraling thoughts that had taken over her mind. But somewhere, beneath the surface, something else was brewing—a new challenge that would shake her world even further.