Forever unforgiven

“Why did you do this?” Akash’s voice echoed, filled with anguish.

“I…I am sorry,” Priya stammered, her eyes wet with tears. “I was young, naïve, blinded by jealousy. I am not giving excuses for what I did, but believe me, there hasn’t been a single night when I have slept in peace.”

Akash’s gaze burned into her. “I could have had such a beautiful life—with my family, with my friends. But because of you, I lost everything. I will never forgive you.”

“Please… please forgive me,” Priya begged, her voice trembling. She folded her hands desperately. “Leave me alone. I can’t bear this anymore. I beg you!”

Onlookers walking past stopped to stare. Priya stood alone on the street, crying and arguing with empty air. They whispered to each other, unsettled by her strange behavior.

But Priya didn’t hear them. She was trapped in a prison of her own making. She knew why she suffered. She had killed Akash—her classmate, her friend, her rival. Jealousy had poisoned her soul back in school. He was admired, loved, praised by everyone… while she burned in the shadows.

That day on the boat, she had smiled as she pushed him into the water, knowing full well that he could not swim. She had watched his arms flail, his mouth open in silent terror, until the waves swallowed him whole.

The world believed Akash was dead. But Priya knew the truth. He never left.

At first, it was just whispers in the dark, a shadow flickering at the edge of her vision. Then, it became footsteps behind her, cold hands brushing her shoulder, a voice calling her name when she was alone.

And now, after years of torment, Akash stood before her, his eyes hollow yet burning with unending rage.

“You can run from the world, Priya,” he whispered, stepping closer, “but you can never run from me.”

Priya let out a scream that froze the air. Passersby gasped, watching her collapse to her knees, clutching her head, pleading with someone they could not see.

To them, she looked insane.

To her, Akash was as real as the guilt in her heart.

And he would never leave her.

-Short Story by Sushma Roy