iliar face illuminated in the so

demeanour. She wore a gentle smile, one

been so long

ne had reached into my clouded thoug

" My response came out too quic

pression understanding

or now. That's amazing. I always adm

admiration? For a moment, the ugliness of self-

er voices beckoned, pulling me b

d, appreciating Me

notice my peers began to gravitate toward us, forming

People were connecting, hearts intertw

battling to keep

like digging up fossils that had long been buried, what e

harsh realities of adult life; choices,

that shimmered beneath the surface, and I was caught in an inter

sing to those guys from St. Mary's," Melanie chuckled, her r

laughed, warmth flickering in my chest before it

hing now? In the grand scheme of succe

se cherished memories layered under current accomplishments. But it left me feeling exp

art, each memory tinted by loneliness as it sipped away my ent

my resolve, and conscience drip fed my doubts like poison. That ache of longing

eone I wasn't expecting, entering with a bright

doubts. Laila was everything I often wished I could be; sociable, easy-goi

voice erupted above the noise, full of war

Laila. Our hug felt both familiar and strange, a reminder of t

ou!" I said, pulling back to

y here. How long has it been?

plied, forcing a smile as m

s like a

ork, by the way? I thought y

l, I have missed you so much, the reunion was just a per

great!"

omentarily encompassed in

ng in there," I confided, a re

right?" Laila nudged. "We've got this; come o

bbing crowd, the warmth lingere

riendships are, how Laila had always cham

tion of successes or failures against my classmates

gradually imbibing warmth from laughter a

antidote to bridges unbuilt, the measures of succe

hter mingling with the soft melodies envelopin

self-doubt that clung to me so tightly. At that moment, I be

relessly amid an overwhelming chaos, eternall

suring my worth against others. I stood alongside a friend who recognised my valu

acing those imperfections, learning to navigate through layers

of new beginnings, I held onto the truth that my