It was 4 oâclock in the afternoon. Michelle sat in her room, glancing at the clock every few minutes, growing more impatient with each passing second.
Ava was supposed to be here by now. Why isnât she here yet? Did something happen? she wondered.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Michelle rushed to the door, her heart lifting with excitement. As she opened it, there stood Ava, slightly out of breath and a little late. Without thinking, Michelle pulled her into a warm hug.
"You took forever!" Michelle playfully scolded.
"I know, I know! I got a little held up," Ava chuckled as she stepped inside.
Michelleâs mom greeted her warmly.
"Hello, Ava! How are you, sweetheart?"
"Iâm fine, Aunty. Thank you! How about you?"
"Iâm doing well, dear. Now go on, head to Michelleâs room. Iâll bring some snacks and juice for you both."
Michelle nodded and led Ava to her room.
Study Time... and Something More*
Once inside, Ava wasted no time.
"Alright, show me which questions youâre struggling with," she said, setting her bag down.
Michelle pointed to the equations that had been giving her trouble. With patience and clarity, Ava explained everything,
making it all seem so simple. Between studying, they giggled over inside jokes and whispered about random things, their usual secret conversations making even studying enjoyable.
A gentle knock interrupted them.
"Hereâs your snack, girls!"
Michelleâs mom entered with a tray of cookies and juice.
"Thanks, Mom!"Michelle grinned, picking up a cookie.
"Are you girls managing okay? Need any help?" her mother asked.
"Oh no, Mom, Ava has already made everything so easy for me! I canât believe I used to stress over these equations so much.
She explained it so well that now it feels like a piece of cake!" Michelle said, taking a sip of juice.
Her mother laughed. "Thatâs great to hear, sweetheart."
With that, she left them to their studies.
A Shift in Avaâs Mood
As Michelle turned back to Ava, she noticed something unusual. Ava was staring at the book, her fingers idly tracing over the pages. Her usual bright expression had faded.
"Youâre really lucky, Michelle,"Ava said softly, her voice carrying a weight that hadnât been there before.
Something about her tone made Michelle uneasy. There was something offâsomething different.
"What do you mean?" Michelle asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
Ava remained quiet for a moment, her eyes fixed on the book as if lost in thought.
"Ava, are you okay? Whatâs wrong?"
Ava forced a small smile and quickly shook her head. "Itâs nothing! Donât overthink it. Letâs focus on studyingâwe have exams coming up, remember?"
Michelle hesitated. Maybe Iâm imagining things... she thought. Ava is always cheerful. Thereâs no way somethingâs bothering her, right?
So, pushing aside her worries, she let it go.
A GOODBYE WITH A HIDDEN MEANING.
Before they knew it, the clock struck 7 PM.
"I should get going nowâitâs getting late," Ava said as she packed her books.
"Stay for dinner!" Michelle insisted. "Come on, youâre practically family now. Mom would love it!"
Ava hesitated, her smile faltering for just a second.
"I canât, Michelle. Maybe some other day. Itâs already late today,"
she replied politely.
Michelle pouted but didnât push further. "Alright, but next time, no excuses!"
Walking her to the door, Michelle waved goodbye.
"See you tomorrow in class, Ava!"
"See you," Ava said with a small wave before walking away.
As Michelle watched her disappear down the street, something still didnât feel right. There was a sadness in Avaâs eyes that she hadnât noticed before.
AVAâS SILENT LONGING
As Ava walked home, she couldnât shake the emotions swirling inside her.
Michelle had such a loving family. The way they talked, the way they laughed together, the way her mother caredâit was so warm, so full of love. It was something Ava had always longed for.
She had felt so happy around them, yet that happiness came with an ache she couldnât ignore.
"Why canât my family be like that?" she thought.
Brushing away the thoughts, she sighed and continued walking.  But deep down, she knewâno matter how much she tried to hide it, some things couldnât be ignored forever.
I wish I had a loving family like Michelleâsâa home filled with warmth, kindness, and genuine care. A family that eats together, talks about their day, and supports each other no matter what. Watching how Michelleâs mom cares for her, how they laugh and share moments of joy, makes me realize how much I long for that kind of love. I wish I had a mother who greeted me with warmth, a home where I felt safe and valued. Seeing Michelleâs family makes me happy for her, but it also leaves an ache in my heart. I wonder what it would feel like to have a place where I truly belong, where love isnât something I have to search forâitâs simply there, always.