"You don't have to do this"
She screamed.

Ryan walked away without looking back,without guilt,without being sorry,without worry.

Without his happiness
Without his life
Without his heart

He knew this day would come.He knew his happiness would end one day.He knew he will never be happy.He knew he will never be like others.He knew he will never be normal.

He knew.

That was why he had always tried to maintain a distance with her.
.
.
.

It was a cloudy day.Ryan was at a park, watching the children play with each other, without judgements in their eyes, without fear in their hearts, without trauma in their faces.

It was at such places, Ryan found hope.

Suddenly, someone sat near him.
He turned to look at the girl from his class.
The girl who followed him everywhere.

He twitched his lips.

"Th-"he started.
"This is not good Malini. You are going to hurt both of us. Leave me alone before anyone notices. You have your friends and family." She tried mimicking him.

His lips curved a little.

She looked at him. The both laughed.

Ryan recovered himself and started to walk away. Malini jogged to catch up with him.

He was going to ignore her.
She knew that.
.
.
.

Ryan was restless the whole day.
He looked at the corridor,biting his nails.

He hadn't seen Malini for 3 days now.There is no way that the girl would leave him alone.He felt something bad about ignoring her all those days.

He looked at the torn love letter in his bag.Malini had given him 3 days back.
Poor girl left with tears as Ryan tore it in anger.

That was the last time he had seen her.
It was actually a good thing. But over these past months,Ryan has grown to like her company.
.
.
.

He went to the park as usual to see her sitting on a bench,looking down.
He sighed.As he neared her,she looked up and turned away childishly.

"Malini.. it is not what you think maaa"he started.

Malini lifted her palm and gestured him to stop.

She wiped her tears.
"Please" she wispered.
" Please give US a chance
Please give me a chance"

She begged.

Ryan sat near her.
"If only you knew about my past..."he started but was cut off by Malini.

" I will never ask about your past and it is a promise...
I know you like me." She said pointing at the now cellotaped love letter in his shirt pocket. They smiled.

.
.
.

Ryan happily picked a greeting card.
1 year of relationship.
He smiled to himself.
He never thought such days will come in his life.

He entered her apartment.

" Let us break up" came a voice from behind him. He looked at Malini with creased brows.

She looked at him with teary yet determined face.

" I can't be with someone from juvenile jail. What did you expect from me. What did you expect when you lied all these days?". She narrowed her eyes at him.

There goes everything. He dropped everything, turned away and started walking out, without uttering a word.

She came behind him.
He walked away.

"Atleast explain yourself" she asked.
He didn't turn away.

" I was just angry. Atleast talk to me " she said.No response.

" You don't have to do this" she screamed.

" You don't have to do this to me" she screamed again.
But, he was gone.

She searched for him.
He was gone.
From the city.
From her life.