New Chapter || LT - AU ✔

New Chapter

Have you ever imagined your life without a person you dearly loved and cared so much about? I bet you did. But, not in a way I did. Nora. Your average teenage girl, not the prettiest of all. Not the slimmest of all. Not shortest of all. Not the smartest of all. But, yes she was that one girl who without having a strong bond with you, had the strongest emotional connection. She would look into your eyes while you spoke your worries out. She would give you her fullest attention as you speak. She would talk to you and only you when you needed advice. The outside world would blur as she spoke. She spoke so well and wise that her talks soothed you and motivated you in any possible way. She wasn't a psychologist or a psychiatrist but, she knew the right words to talk. Even though she hadn't experienced the same situations as you, she could feel your pain, sorrow, happiness, contentment, excitement, anxiety, nervousness. You name it. Nobody could imagine why her emotional bond with people was so powerful. But, it was. It was rare. She was different. Everybody knew it. Maybe that's why people considered her as an outcast. I did too. Just for as much as ten years. Ten years till the time we actually talked to eachother. It was around noon. I was sat in the amphitheater sulking on the death of my late girlfriend. She had passed away in horrible car accident. She had gone to Cairo as an exchange student. No one really knew how she met with an accident. I blamed myself for not being there with her as she took her last breaths. Ofcourse, I was traumatized by the whole news and was not in the correct state of mind. So, those thoughts naturally haunted me. Nora had approached me that day...

I sat on the stairs, starring aimlessly at a distance. I felt hand touch my shoulder. I gulped hard and squeezed my eyes shut. I slowly turned back and was met with a pair of familiar brown eyes.

"I won't ask whether you're okay or not. Because I know you're not. I just want to tell you that I am sorry for what happened to Tasha. It is awful. I didn't know her as much but, I do know that she loved you. I could see it in here eye. Don't be hard on yourself Louis. We both know it wasn't your fault. You couldn't possibly do anything. It happened. We can't change it."

"What do you know?" I snorted and was about to leave when she stopped me.

"Louis, please. You're right. I don't know shit about love and losing someone so close. All I can do is imagine. And I might not know how you feel right now. But, I can imagine what you are going through."

"Oh really?! And what am I going through?!" I asked amused.

"Hurt, guilty, depressed, dead, lost, betrayed, furious. You feel that you could've done so much to save her. You could've gone with her. You could've made her stay. You could've have atleast kissed her goodbye. But Louis, you should understand that there is nothing that you could've have done. I am not even saying that you should forget about it. You possibly couldn't. You wouldn't dare. But what you can do is remember. Louis, you must understand that she is a part of a treasured memory. She always will be. What I am saying is that you're fortunate enough to have met her. She was lucky to have you. She is proud of you Louis. I am not asking you to let go of her. I am asking you to remember and replay all the times you had with her. Smile at them. Be proud that you had an opportunity to share those memories with her."

"It's hard.."

"It will be. I know. It is hard. But Louis, I think Tasha would always want you to be happy for the times you had together. I don't think she would ever want you to weep because it's over. And believe me, it's not over. It's just a new chapter in your life. Always remember, the previous chapter leaves the reader hanging without finishing the story. That's why we turn to the next chapter."

"I'll be a changed man. I won't know happiness, life and love..."

"You don't know that. You haven't read the next chapter."

"But, I write the book. So I know how the next chapter is going to be."

"Before writing the next chapter, the author sits back and re-reads his previous chapters to structure the next one."

"But, he knows the plot."

"No. He doesn't. He didn't plan to fall in love with Tasha in the first few chapters. Besides, a book with a plot becomes a bit boring. It sure keeps you on the right track and reminds you not to drift away from the main storyline. But, life and change don't have plots."

"Why?"

"What's the fun in that then?"

"They sure love to torture their characters."

"Maybe. But, they're the ones who know how to make their characters happy."

"I don't know that word."

"Check the dictionary."

"It's not in my dictionary anymore."

"Then rewrite it."

"What if I don't want to?"

"What if one day you do?"

"I probably won't."

"I am positive you will."

"How do you know?"

"I don't."

"Then why did you say that?"

"Because, I hope you find happiness, compassion and love again."

"Why?"

"Because life is too short."

"Reasons why I hate it."

"Reasons why I love it."

"Did you ever lose someone you loved?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Me. But, I eventually found myself back. I hope you do too, Louis. You deserve it." She gave a last shoulder squeeze before walking into the school. I suddenly felt a lot lighter. As if someone that lifted a weight off my shoulder. I took a deep intake of breath and walked back into the campus.