Eternal Echo Of Love

5. The Darkness Within

Despite growing closer to Muthuu, Shan’s inner battles wouldn’t let go. No matter how much he tried to be the carefree, fun-loving boy everyone saw, the weight inside him only grew heavier. As their bond deepened, he found himself even more scared of revealing the broken pieces of his heart. He feared that if Muthuu knew how damaged he was, she’d see him differently—maybe even pull away.

One night, after another exhausting day of pretending, Shan sat alone in his room, the silence almost deafening. The darkness felt alive, closing in on him, making it harder to breathe. He was suffocating under the pressure of trying to be someone he wasn’t, someone who was strong and happy. But he was crumbling, piece by piece, with no one to turn to—not even Muthuu.

As he sat there, his mind raced back to the days when he’d first seen her in that new class. He’d felt like a stranger in his own skin, awkward and out of place, but then he saw her—a beautiful, short, and bright presence that instantly captivated him. It had stung when their eyes met, a sharp pang in his chest that left him breathless. He had told his friends about her, and they had laughed, teased him, but they didn’t know how much it hurt. How could someone like her ever like someone like him? He wasn’t good-looking, and he’d never thought she’d notice him, let alone care for him.

But somehow, against all odds, they had started talking. Their friendship grew slowly, each day bringing them closer. He had looked out for her, protecting her in small ways she might never have noticed, always worried that she’d slip away. And then, that one unforgettable day at the beach, when she’d told him she thought she loved him… it had shattered something inside him, not in a bad way, but in a way that let light in where there had only been darkness. He had cried, letting go of some of the pain he’d held onto for so long, and told her he loved her too—from the very moment they’d met.

Now, as he sat in his room, those memories felt distant, almost like a dream. The reality was that he was still drowning, still falling apart with no way to stop it. He clenched his fists, angry at himself for being so weak. He wanted to scream, to let out all the pain, but he didn’t. Instead, he buried his face in his hands and let the tears fall, quietly, unseen.

“Amma… I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I’m so tired… so tired of pretending.”

The night swallowed his sobs, a stark contrast to the bright smile he forced himself to wear every day. Shan knew he was living a lie, and the weight of that lie was slowly crushing him. But even in his darkest moments, a small part of him held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, Muthuu could be the light that would pull him out of the darkness. She had already saved him once without knowing it—could she do it again?

As he wiped away his tears, he realized he couldn’t hide from her forever. If there was anyone who could understand, who could help him bear this burden, it was Muthuu. But the fear of losing her was as strong as his need to be free of the pain. For now, all he could do was hold on to the hope that she could still be his light, and maybe, one day, he’d find the courage to let her in completely.