The Window Between Us - Part 2

After that brief exchange at the grocery store, something shifted.

The next morning, Dishant found himself waking up earlier than usual to catch a glimpse of her stepping into her balcony with that same cup of tea. Deepa, too, started lingering longer by her railing, occasionally glancing across, her fingers tracing the edge of her cup.

Words were still rare, but the silence between them felt less empty now.

One evening, after a soft rain washed the city, Deepa sent him a voice note. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.

"I lost my father last year... during the first wave. He was in the ICU for days. We couldn’t even see him when he passed. Couldn’t say goodbye. I never really told anyone outside my family. I guess... I just wanted you to know."

Dishant stared at the message for a few seconds before typing back.

"Hey. I noticed. Everything okay?"

There was a long pause before her reply came in.

"No. But I will be. Just... trying to get through something."

He didn’t ask for details. He simply wrote back,

"Take your time. I’m here. Window’s open."

That night, he kept the light on near his window a little longer than usual.

And across the lane, hers stayed on too.

***End of Part 2***

#flashfiction #shortstories #romance #friendship