My first love that I cant forget

The bell rang, signaling the end of another day at Hollycross High. Students flooded the hallways, chatting and laughing as they headed to their lockers. Among them was me, Thanos , a shy sophomore with a penchant for sketching and a love for solitude. I never imagined that one moment, one encounter, could change everything.

It was a rainy Thursday afternoon when I first saw her. The sky was a canvas of gray, and droplets splashed against the windows of the art room. I stayed behind after school, working on a mural project for the upcoming fair. That’s when she walked in.

“Hey, is it okay if I stay here until the rain stops?” she asked, her voice soft yet laced with a confidence that made my heart race.

Her name was Eshu , a junior known for her infectious laughter and knack for storytelling. She was everything I wasn’t – outgoing, vibrant, and fearless. But in that moment, drenched from the rain and wrapping her arms around her books, she seemed so… real.

“Sure,” I managed to reply, trying to sound casual while my hands trembled over my sketchpad.

As the rain poured outside, Eshu walked over to my work. “That’s amazing,” she said, pointing at the half-finished mural of a lotus pond. “You’re really talented.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, my cheeks heating up.I was amazed to see her and thinking that how can a person can be that much beautiful!!

“Do you mind if I sit?” she asked, and before I could answer, she pulled out a chair and sat beside me.

What followed was the beginning of something beautiful. Eshu stayed until the rain stopped, and we talked about everything—from favorite books to dreams we were too afraid to share with others. She told me about her passion for writing, how she dreamed of publishing stories that would inspire people. I shared my love for art, how sketching helped me express emotions I couldn’t put into words.

From that day on, Eshu and I became inseparable. She’d join me in the art room during lunch breaks, spinning tales while I sketched. Her stories often inspired my drawings, and my art brought her words to life. We were an unlikely pair, but somehow, we fit perfectly.

One day, she handed me a folded piece of paper. “It’s a short story I wrote,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Let me know what you think.”

That night, I read her story. It was about a boy who painted the stars and a girl who captured their light with her words. It was magical, and I couldn’t help but see ourselves in her characters. I stayed up until dawn, sketching illustrations for her story. When I showed them to her the next day, she hugged me so tightly I thought my heart would burst. That situation made me think that i can die right now happily without any regret.

But life isn’t a fairytale. Eshu's dad got a job offer in another city, and she had to move away. The day she told me, we sat in the art room, our sanctuary, in silence. Neither of us knew what to say. Finally, she handed me her notebook.

“Keep this,” she said. “It’s all my stories. Maybe one day you can turn them into art.”

I gave her my sketchbook in return. “This is for you. So you don’t forget.”

We promised to keep in touch, but as months turned into years, life got in the way. Emails became sporadic, then stopped altogether. Yet, I never forgot her. I still have her notebook, and every now and then, I revisit her stories, letting them transport me back to those rainy afternoons in the art room.

Now, as I stand in an art gallery showcasing my first solo exhibition, I see her. Eshu, standing in front of a painting inspired by her story of the boy and the girl. Our eyes meet, and in that moment, it’s as if no time has passed.

“Hi, Thanos,” she says, her voice just as soft and confident as I remember.

“Hi, Eshu,” I reply, my heart racing once again.She has become more beautiful in my eyes this time.

Now The centerpiece is a mural of a boy painting stars and a girl capturing their light with her words. People admire the painting, unaware of the story behind it.

Eshu isn’t here, but her presence is everywhere—in my art, in the person I’ve become. She didn’t give me her love, but she gave me something far greater: a love for myself and the courage to chase my dreams.

As the evening comes to a close, I look at her notebook, displayed next to the mural, and whisper, “Thank you, Eshu.”

Some loves are not meant to last a lifetime, even if they begin it with a right person.Eshu left me forever. she was a patient of heart disease.She was not only a beautiful girl but also a strong fighter.Though her heart wasn't in good condition but she made my heart lovely.

Eshu was my first love, and no matter where life takes me, she’ll always be the girl who taught me to see the world through stories and love.