Sometimes, you need to let things go

Once upon a time, Tranquil Munnar, a small town nestled in the heart of Kerala's rolling hills and serene lakes, there was a boy named Varun. He was shy, quiet, and often lost in the pages of his books. He lived a simple life, filled with school, his love for nature, and occasional daydreams. The highlight of his year was the school picnic, an annual event that brought together students for a day of games, laughter, and escape from the routine of school life.

It was during one of these picnics that Varun met Mia.

Mia was vibrant—her laughter was contagious, her eyes sparkled with a joy that made the world seem brighter. Varun had seen her around school before, but he had never spoken to her. She was popular, always surrounded by friends, while Varun preferred the quiet company of his thoughts. But that day, at the picnic, fate had different plans.

As the sun began to set, Mia approached Varun. He was sitting under a large oak tree, sketching in his notebook. She smiled at him, and for the first time, their worlds collided.

“Mind if I sit here?” she asked, her voice soft but filled with curiosity.

Varun, caught off guard, nodded. “Sure.”

They sat together in a comfortable silence for a moment, the sounds of laughter and chatter in the background. Mia glanced at his notebook and asked, "What are you drawing?"

Varun hesitated but then turned the sketchpad towards her. It was a simple drawing of the oak tree they sat under, with delicate strokes capturing the way the leaves swayed in the breeze.

“Wow,” Mia whispered. “That’s beautiful.”

Her words, though simple, felt like a spark igniting something inside him. They spent the rest of the day together, talking about everything—dreams, fears, favourite books, and silly memories. By the end of the picnic, Varun had fallen in love. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had found someone who saw him, really saw him.

Over the next few months, they grew closer. They’d meet under the oak tree after school, sharing secrets and stolen moments. Varun felt alive in a way he never had before, like his world had been painted with colours he never knew existed.

But life is often unpredictable, and sometimes, the brightest moments are fleeting.

One morning, Varun received news that shattered his world. Mia had been in an accident. A car crash, they said. She didn’t survive.

Varun’s heart broke into a million pieces. The pain was indescribable, a crushing weight that left him numb. He couldn’t believe that the girl who had brought so much light into his life was gone. It felt like the universe had played a cruel joke on him, giving him a glimpse of happiness only to snatch it away.

He stopped going to the oak tree. He couldn’t bear to face the place that held so many memories of her. The days passed in a blur, and Varun withdrew into himself, shutting out the world. He couldn’t understand how life could be so unfair.

The school picnic came again that year, but Varun couldn’t bring himself to go. Instead, he wandered through the empty school grounds, lost in his thoughts. As he walked, he found himself drawn to the oak tree, the place where it all began.

He sat down under its branches and closed his eyes, remembering the sound of Mia’s laughter, the way she looked at him with those bright eyes. Tears streamed down his face, but for the first time in months, he didn’t push the pain away. He let himself feel it—really feel it.

After what felt like hours, he opened his eyes and noticed something. In front of him, a small flower had bloomed. It was delicate and beautiful, just like Mia had been. Varun stared at it for a long time, and then he understood.

Mia was gone, but the memories they shared would always be with him. The love they had would remain in his heart, even though she was no longer by his side. Sometimes, he realized, you need to let go and allow yourself to heal.

Varun stood up and took a deep breath. He would never forget Mia. She had changed his life in ways he could never fully express. But he knew now that holding onto the pain was only keeping him from living. Mia had shown him how beautiful life could be, and he owed it to her to carry that beauty forward.

As he walked away from the oak tree, Varun felt a sense of peace. He had learned to let go—not of Mia, but of the sorrow that had kept him prisoner. And in letting go, he found the strength to live again.