The girl who waited

The sun shone brightly through the window, filling the room with golden light. A girl sat on her bed, stretching her arms and smiling as if today was going to be the best day ever. That girl was Aira—a girl who always laughed, always talked, and always believed that life was beautiful.

She ran downstairs, her footsteps light and cheerful. "Good morning, Mom! Good morning, Dad!" she said excitedly.

Her parents, sitting at the dining table, barely looked up from their phones. "Morning," her dad mumbled, sipping his coffee.

Aira didn't mind. She was used to it.

She grabbed a toast and rushed outside. Her best friends, Riya and Meera, were waiting for her at the gate.

"You're late!" Riya said, laughing.

"Again!" Meera added, rolling her eyes.

Aira stuck out her tongue. "Come on, let's go before we get scolded!"

Their laughter filled the morning air as they walked to school. Aira felt happy. She always had her friends. She always had people around her.

But what she didn't know was that happiness fades.

And sometimes, it never comes back...