Love Before Graduation

Last Evening...

He had said, "See you tomorrow, Aira."

That was it. His last words. I replayed them a thousand times. Each word crawled under my skin.

I picked up my phone. His name still flashed in the call log, as if he was still here. I pressed the button. Once...twice...five times...no answer.

I opened the messages. My fingers trembled. Typing was hard.

Aira: Shubh?

Aira: This is a joke, right? Tell me this is all a lie.

Aira: Please.

Silence. And then, a reply.