The World Within

The Last Chapter

The end of the semester had arrived, bringing with it the inevitable wave of exams, stress, and sleepless nights. It was the toughest part of our journey, where each of us pushed ourselves to achieve the best scores possible. In this race, our hard work was often reduced to mere numbers, as society measured our worth by our grades. This reality felt disheartening, yet we faced it with courage and determination.

Despite the pressure, this phase wasn’t all gloom. It was filled with late-night study sessions, whispered jokes, and the quiet comfort of knowing we were all in it together. But as the exams ended, the bittersweet realization hit us: our school life was drawing to a close. The days of carefree laughter, shared dreams, and innocent mischief were now a chapter of the past.

It was on the last day of exams when Max, James, EJ, and I sat together under the shade of our favorite tree near the school playground. A breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it a mix of nostalgia and anticipation.
“The intro to your book is quite good, Arthur!” Max exclaimed, breaking the silence.
I smiled, feeling a rush of pride but also the bittersweet pang of goodbyes. “I had to make it good—it’s the best memories we all cherish.”
“True,” James said. “These years were the most wonderful days of our lives. Who would’ve thought that the ‘colors’ we met would become our favorite ones?”
Max rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “What a cheesy line, James. Maybe you should be the writer instead of Arthur.”
“No, thanks, Max. I’ll leave the writing to him. But Arthur, what did you write in it?”
“That’s a secret,” I replied with a smirk.
“Haven’t you heard? There are no secrets between friends,” James teased.
“Alright, alright,” EJ interrupted. “Arthur’s book is special, and if you want to know the secrets, you’ll just have to read it yourself.”
I laughed, watching my friends banter, wishing this moment could last forever.

A week later, the day of the results arrived. The air was heavy with anticipation as my phone buzzed with a notification. My heart pounded like a drum as I entered my roll number. The seconds felt like hours. Then, the screen flashed with the words: Arthur MacPherson – Top of the Class.
My parents rushed to my side, their faces beaming with pride. My father hugged me tightly, his voice choked with emotion. It was a moment I would carry in my heart forever.

As I sat processing the news, the doorbell rang. It was EJ, Max, and James, their faces lit up with excitement. “Congratulations, Arthur!” they shouted in unison.
We celebrated by heading to James’ family shop, where we bought cakes and pizzas. Afterward, we rode our bikes along the Brazen Bridge, the cool breeze from the River Allevia beneath us soothing our racing hearts. The river sparkled under the sunlight, as if sharing in our joy.

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, James spoke up, his voice tinged with sadness.
“So, is this the last of our moments together?”
“Nope,” Max said confidently.
“There’s so much more we’ll see and experience together.”
“But this is the end of our carefree days,” EJ added softly.
“From tomorrow, everything changes.”
“Yes,” I said, “but with change comes new beginnings. There are achievements waiting for us, challenges to conquer, and new dreams to dream.”

That night, as I returned home, I found myself staring at the last page of my book. It was the chapter that encapsulated our most cherished memories. As I turned the page, I discovered a photo—one of the many memories I hold dear. It was a picture of the four of us from our first day of school. I smiled, my eyes misting over. It felt as if I had traveled back to those days. Gently, I placed the photo back into the book and returned it to the shelf.
I went back to my bed and reached for the light switch. Suddenly, in the soft, yellowish glow, my eyes landed on the photo again. I picked it up and whispered, “I wish you could stay with me forever. You will be able to share your stories, and listen to the ones I’ve been writing for you.”

Placing the photo back on my desk, I turned off the lights and lay in bed. The bittersweet memories of the day lingered as I drifted off to sleep. The quiet murmur of the River Allevia echoed in my dreams—a constant reminder that while some chapters may end, the story always continues.