A Letter To My Butterfly

Chapter 11: The Letter That Changed Everything

Chapter 11: The Letter That Changed Everything

The crisp spring air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers as Vishwa and Tarini stood outside the school gates, their final year coming to a close. Graduation loomed on the horizon, but their thoughts were consumed by the anxiety of college acceptance letters. It was a time of anticipation, a moment they had both been waiting for and dreading.

Vishwa had received his second acceptance letter a week ago—this one from a university farther away. Though excited, a growing sense of unease had settled in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't just about the future of his education; it was about his future with Tarini.

Tarini, on the other hand, was still waiting. Every day she checked the mailbox, her heart leaping each time a letter arrived, only to plummet when she saw it wasn’t the one she’d been hoping for. The tension was palpable, and it lingered between them in their conversations.

On a sunny afternoon, the two of them found themselves on their usual bench in the park, the same one where they had spent countless hours talking about life, dreams, and the uncertain road ahead. Today, however, their laughter was muted, replaced by the weight of the unknown.

“Still nothing?” Vishwa asked quietly, turning to her. He could see the tiredness in her eyes, the result of sleepless nights spent worrying.

Tarini shook her head. “Not yet. I’m trying to stay positive, but it’s hard when everyone else is getting their letters.”

Vishwa placed a comforting hand on hers. “You’re one of the brightest people I know. It’s just a matter of time.”

“I hope so,” she sighed, glancing down at her phone. “What if I don’t get into any of the schools I applied to? What if I end up stuck here while you move on with your life?”

Vishwa’s heart ached at the thought of leaving her behind. “No matter what happens, Tarini, we’ll figure it out together. You’re not going to be stuck. You have so much ahead of you, and even if things don’t go according to plan, that doesn’t mean your future is any less bright.”

She smiled faintly, appreciating his words but still feeling the weight of her uncertainty. “Thank you. I just hate feeling so powerless.”

“I know,” Vishwa said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “But you’re not powerless. You’ve done everything you could, and now it’s just a waiting game.”

As the days passed, they both tried to focus on the little moments that brought them joy. They still met for study sessions, took walks, and found solace in each other’s presence. But the shadow of the future loomed larger every day.

Then, one morning, it happened.

Tarini was sitting at her kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring her tea when the mail arrived. She heard the thud of the letters hitting the floor and jumped up, her heart racing. With trembling hands, she picked up the small stack of envelopes. She rifled through them, her eyes scanning the return addresses.

And then she saw it. The letter she had been waiting for.

It was from her top choice university, the one she had dreamed of attending for as long as she could remember. For a moment, she couldn’t move. She just stood there, staring at the envelope, feeling a mix of fear and hope surge through her.

With shaking fingers, she tore it open, her eyes darting across the page as she unfolded the letter. Her breath caught in her throat as she read the first line:

“We are pleased to inform you…”

Tears sprang to her eyes as the words sank in. She had done it. She had been accepted.

Tarini clutched the letter to her chest, a sob escaping her lips—this time, tears of joy. She grabbed her phone and dialed Vishwa’s number, her voice shaking with excitement.

“Vishwa! I got in! I got in!” she cried, unable to contain her emotions.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Vishwa’s voice broke through, filled with disbelief and joy. “You did? Oh my god, Tarini, that’s amazing! I knew you could do it!”

“I can’t believe it,” she said, wiping away her tears. “This is actually happening.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Vishwa said, his voice full of warmth. “We have to celebrate. I’m coming over right now.”

Within minutes, Vishwa was at her door, and when Tarini opened it, he pulled her into a tight hug. “I told you!” he exclaimed, laughing as he held her close. “You’re amazing, Tarini. You deserve this.”

She smiled through her tears, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. For the first time in weeks, the future didn’t seem so scary.

They spent the rest of the day celebrating—laughing, talking, and planning what was to come. But as the sun began to set, a new realization dawned on them both.

Tarini’s dream school was across the country. It was far from where Vishwa had been accepted. And while they had always talked about navigating the future together, the reality of their situation was now staring them in the face.

As the evening grew quieter, Tarini’s voice broke the silence. “Vishwa… what’s going to happen to us?”

He looked at her, the weight of her question heavy in the air. “I don’t know,” he admitted softly. “I’ve been trying not to think about it.”

“But we have to,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t,” he said, though even as the words left his mouth, he felt the uncertainty of them. “We’ll make it work. We have to.”

Tarini looked down at her hands, her fingers tracing the edge of the acceptance letter. “It’s just… everything’s changing. I’m scared of what’s going to happen to us.”

Vishwa reached out, lifting her chin so their eyes met. “I’m scared too,” he admitted. “But we’ve been through so much together. I believe in us, Tarini. No matter what happens, we’ll find a way to stay connected.”

She nodded, but the worry in her eyes remained. “I hope you’re right.”

For the rest of the evening, they sat together, holding hands and talking about the future—about the distance, the challenges, and the uncertainty that lay ahead. They promised to stay in touch, to visit as often as they could, and to make time for each other despite the miles that would soon separate them.

But even as they made these promises, both Vishwa and Tarini knew that the road ahead would not be easy. They were stepping into a new chapter of their lives, one filled with possibility but also with the unknown. And while their love had carried them through so much, the question lingered: would it be enough to carry them through what was to come?

As they said their goodbyes that night, Vishwa held Tarini a little longer, as if trying to memorize the feel of her in his arms. And when they parted, there was a new kind of silence between them—a silence not of discomfort, but of understanding.

The future was coming, whether they were ready or not.