You Belong With Me

58

Sourav's voice trembled as he whispered, "The hardest part was saying goodbye to my boys and Rahul." His words hung in the air, heavy with emotion.

Vanshika sat close by, her eyes locked onto his. She could see the pain etched into his features, every line on his face telling a story of the bonds he had forged and the memories he had made. She didn't say anything, just watched him with deep sympathy.

Flashback

The sun was setting outside the stadium, casting long shadows over the field where so many memories had been made. Inside the locker room, the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken words and unshed tears. Sourav's teammates surrounded him, their eyes filled with confusion and sorrow. Each of them tried, in their own way, to persuade him to reconsider his decision to retire. They didn't understand why he was doing this, why he was choosing to walk away from the game he loved. For Sourav, it was incredibly difficult to say goodbye without revealing the real reason behind his decision.

Sourav stood there, looking at the faces of his teammates, the friends he had battled alongside for so many years. As he saw the tears in their eyes, he felt a deep ache in his heart. He knew he had to be strong for them, to hold back his own emotions. He couldn't let himself break down now. Taking a deep breath, he began to speak, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

"Retirement is a big decision," he said, trying to sound confident. "It's something I've thought about for a long time. It's not easy, but it's the right choice for me. It's time for me to step aside and let the younger players take the lead."

His words were met with a chorus of protests, but Sourav remained resolute. He consoled each of them, one by one, doing his best to explain why this was the path he had to take. He hugged them, patted their backs, and reassured them that everything would be alright. But deep down, he knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

After saying his goodbyes to all the members, Sourav's eyes finally met Rahul's. For a few precious seconds, they stared at each other, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and suppressed emotions. Sourav's heart ached as he looked at Rahul, his lover, his confidant, the one person who knew him better than anyone else. He wanted Rahul to say something, anything, to break the silence that was tearing him apart. But Rahul just stood there, staring back at him, not uttering a single word. His eyes were filled with pain, a pain that mirrored Sourav's own.

The weight of the moment was almost too much to bear. Sourav felt his resolve crumbling, but he knew he couldn't afford to break down here, not in front of everyone. He had to stay strong. With one last, lingering look at Rahul, Sourav turned and walked out of the room. He could feel Rahul's eyes on his back, burning into him, but he didn't look back. He couldn't. He knew that if he did, he might never be able to leave.

As soon as he was out of sight, Sourav broke into a run. He ran through the corridors of the stadium, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls. He ran until he reached his room, the one place where he could finally let his guard down. Slamming the door shut behind him, he leaned against it, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, and he knew he couldn't hold them back any longer.

Sourav stumbled over to his bed and sat down heavily, burying his face in his hands. The tears came then, hot and bitter, spilling down his cheeks in a silent torrent. He cried for everything he was leaving behind, for the dreams that would never be realized, and for the love he couldn't openly acknowledge. He cried until there were no more tears left, until he was empty and exhausted.