A Silent afternoon in May

A Silent Afternoon in May

An Untold Story

By: Mahir

Sometimes, time engraves certain dates into our hearts—quiet, weightless, yet eternally glowing.

For Mahir, May 8th, 2023 was one such day.

The morning was just like any other. He had gone to the college office to finish some registration work. Amidst the mild chaos and murmurs of the crowd, his eyes suddenly caught a familiar-yet-unknown face. Her name was Bela.

They had never spoken before, though he had seen her from a distance. But that day was different. Their eyes met.

And for a brief moment, time seemed to pause.

She was there to complete her registration, and Mahir helped her with some details. Just a small exchange. A fleeting smile from her—gentle and a little shy.

But the story didn’t end there.

That evening, Mahir, gathering all his courage, sent her a message on Facebook.

He didn’t expect a reply.

But she responded.

And so began a conversation—hesitant at first, in short, careful words.

As the days went by, their bond grew stronger.

One day, Bela asked,

“Will you be my best friend?”

Something stirred inside Mahir.

He simply replied,

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Then came the days of sharing everything—from little joys to silent sorrows.

Their friendship was tender—without definitions, without promises. Just a quiet presence.

But not all stories are meant to last.

A week before their exams, Bela suddenly stopped replying. No explanation, no farewell—just silence.

Mahir was left shaken, not understanding what had gone wrong.

Emotionally overwhelmed, he fell sick.

A high fever took over for seven days.

He eventually returned home from his hostel.

Under his mother’s care, he recovered slowly.

He sat for his exams and did well.

But nothing ever returned to how it was.

Later, Mahir heard from someone—Bela got married.

Now, Mahir is a student at the University of Dhaka.

A new life, new beginnings.

But May 8 lingers in his heart—like a quiet light.

It doesn’t burn, it doesn’t fade,

it simply reminds him:

Some stories are meant only to be felt,

never fully written.

Author’s Note

“This story is inspired by a real chapter from my life. Not every bond gets a name, but some stay etched forever in the invisible manuscript of memory. This is for those who were once everything to someone—without ever officially being anything.”

— Mahir