The days that followed felt unusually still.
Areeba knew what was coming next.
An entire year.
One more year in graduation.
One more year in the same place, with the same memories, the same corridors, and the same faces she had been trying so hard to forget.
It wasn't just a delay in studies.
It felt like life had paused her… while everyone else moved ahead.
The very next day, she went to college to complete the formalities—forms, signatures, submissions. It all felt mechanical, like she was just fulfilling a responsibility without truly being present.
As she walked through the campus, her eyes unintentionally drifted toward the botanical garden.
There, under the shade of trees, a group of professors sat together, engaged in conversation. Among them was the Vice Principal.
Areeba tried to walk past quietly.
But fate didn't allow it.
"Areeba!"
Her steps froze.
She turned slowly.
The Vice Principal gestured for her to come.
She didn't have the option to refuse.
Composing herself, she walked toward them, greeted everyone respectfully, and stood there, unsure of what would come next.
"We've seen your result," one of the professors said.
Another asked, "How was your exam?"
Simple questions.
But heavy.
Areeba lowered her gaze.
She knew the truth.
No matter how distracted she was… she could have passed.
She always did.
Failure was never part of her identity.
And now, standing in front of the same professors who once believed in her, appreciated her, and expected so much from her—it felt like she had disappointed them all.
"I… I don't know," she replied softly.
There were more questions.
More words.
But nothing really reached her.
After a few moments, she politely asked for permission to leave.
And walked away.
That brief encounter drained her more than the exam itself.
---
The next day brought something unexpected.
One of her professors approached her casually and said,
"We heard about Safa's sister… felt really bad."
Areeba frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
The professor looked surprised.
"You don't know? Your friend Safa's sister passed away yesterday. I thought you knew… maybe you were there."
Areeba felt the ground slip beneath her feet.
"What…?"
Her voice barely came out.
No one told her.
Not a single person.
Her hands trembled as she immediately called Wisha.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Areeba asked, her voice filled with shock.
Wisha hesitated. "I thought… after everything… you wouldn't go. And I… I forgot to tell you."
Forgot.
That word hit harder than anything.
Areeba ended the call without saying much.
She felt something heavy settle inside her chest.
How could she not know?
How did things change so much that news like this didn't even reach her?
Just then, a group of classmates gathered around her.
"We're going to Safa's house… do you want to come?"
Areeba paused.
Despite everything that had happened… she had spent years with them.
Memories don't disappear that easily.
"Yes," she said quietly.
They started their journey, unsure of the exact location. On the way, they met Noor.
"You came from there, right? Take us," someone said.
But Noor hesitated.
"I… don't really remember the way," she replied.
Maybe she genuinely forgot.
Or maybe… Areeba's presence made things uncomfortable.
Areeba didn't wait.
"I'll ask around," she said, and walked ahead.
One by one, the others followed her.
After asking several people, she finally found the house.
But as she stood at the gate… her feet stopped.
"I can't go inside," she said.
"You all go."
But her classmates didn't listen.
They gently pushed her forward.
And she entered.
Inside, Safa stood near the entrance, greeting people.
Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from crying.
And then—
She saw Areeba.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
Safa rushed toward her and hugged her tightly.
As if she had been waiting.
As if Areeba's presence meant something beyond words.
Tears rolled down Safa's face.
And Areeba… stood still for a second before slowly placing her hand on her back.
She didn't think.
She didn't remember the past.
She just… felt.
"I'm here," she whispered softly.
After some time, Safa held her hand and took her inside.
They sat together.
Safa spoke about her sister… her voice breaking again and again.
And throughout it all, she held Areeba's hand tightly.
As if letting go would mean losing something else too.
Areeba listened.
And then… she cried too.
Not for the past.
Not for the pain between them.
But for Safa.
For her loss.
For the emptiness she was now living with.
When it was time to leave, Safa looked at Areeba with tearful eyes.
"Come again," she said.
Areeba nodded.
"I will."
That evening, Areeba told Mili everything.
Mili listened quietly.
"You did right," she said. "You should have gone."
Areeba hesitated.
"Can I go again… sometime?" she asked softly. "She asked me to come… and I also want to. She was crying so much…"
Mili's expression changed.
"No need," she said firmly. "You've already done more than enough."
"But—"
"No ifs and buts, Areeba," Mili interrupted. "Have you forgotten what they did to you? And you still want to go back?"
Areeba fell silent.
"If you go there again… I won't talk to you."
The words were harsh.
But they worked.
That night, Areeba listened to the recordings again.
Every word.
Every betrayal.
Every truth she had once ignored.
And once again—
She chose distance.
When Safa returned to college, everyone surrounded her.
Areeba saw her from a distance.
But she didn't go closer.
Instead, she quietly walked in the opposite direction and entered her classroom.
She didn't know what to say.
She didn't know how to comfort someone with words.
She could only offer presence.
And maybe… that wasn't enough anymore.
Later, in class, Safa greeted her.
Areeba greeted her back.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Their bond now existed in a strange space—
Not close.
Not distant.
Just… there.
That night, Areeba received a message.
From Safa.
"I'm an overthinker… and after my sister died… it keeps coming back in my mind. I wanted to say sorry… for how I behaved with you. I know I was rude. I'm really sorry."
Areeba had deleted her contact.
But some numbers… you never forget.
She opened the chat.
"It's okay," she replied. "I don't mind it anymore."
Safa responded almost immediately.
"Can we start again?"
Areeba stared at the message for a long time.
Then typed slowly:
"I know it's been hard for you. You have to be strong. Your family needs you… your sister's children need you."
A pause.
"As for us… I've forgiven you. But starting again… that's something I can't do. I don't trust anymore."
She hesitated.
"But we also can't deny that we don't know each other anymore."
After that, their conversations ended.
Time passed.
Exams came again.
Areeba returned to the same halls, the same desks.
One day, she saw Safa and Noor standing together outside the exam hall.
For a moment, time paused.
But Areeba didn't.
She walked past them.
Like a stranger.
And entered the hall.
After the exam, Safa waited for her.
They greeted each other politely.
Talked a little.
Nothing deep.
Nothing emotional.
Just… closure in fragments.
On her last exam day, Areeba was late.
She rushed in and began writing.
This time, she wrote properly.
Confidently.
As if she was finally present.
Near the end, a teacher approached her.
"Do you know that girl?" he asked, pointing toward the door. "She's been waiting for you."
Areeba looked up.
It was Safa.
Standing quietly.
Waiting.
Areeba nodded slightly.
"She's not my sister," she said. "She's an old classmate."
And in that moment—
She understood the difference.
Between a friend…
And a classmate.
She finished her exam, handed over the paper, and walked out.
They spoke one last time.
No promises.
No expectations.
Just a silent understanding.
And then—
They walked away.
In different directions.
The next day, Areeba packed her things.
There was nothing left for her in that town.
No attachments.
No expectations.
Just memories.
She walked alone through the streets one last time.
Remembering everything—
The first meetings.
The laughter.
The friendships.
The endings.
As she passed by her favorite restaurant, she paused.
She had planned to eat there one last time.
But then—
She saw Noor and Safa entering inside.
Areeba stood still.
For a moment, she thought of going in.
But then…
She stepped back.
Turned around.
And walked away.
Without looking back.
Because some places…
Are better left as memories.