The Weight Of My Heart??

The Echo After Goodbye

Mira’s POV---

The hospital corridors had never felt this loud.

Machines beeped. Footsteps hurried. Someone laughed down the hall — yet all she could hear was the echo of his voice.

> “You’re the only one I can see.”

Mira closed her eyes for a second, her hands gripping the file tighter.
The scent of antiseptic filled the air — sharp, grounding — but it did nothing to quiet the storm inside her.

She walked into her cabin, setting her bag down carefully. Her fingers trembled — not out of weakness, but restraint. Years of building walls were now trembling under the weight of a single glance.

She washed her hands out of habit — not because they needed cleaning, but because she couldn’t wash away how his voice still clung to her skin.

> He looked the same.
No, worse — he looked better. Older. Sharper. And still dangerous to her peace.

-----
A soft knock came at the door.

“Dr. Das?” Arohi peeked in, holding a coffee cup. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Mira forced a small smile. “Something like that.”

Ishan followed behind, his usual teasing grin in place. “The same ghost we can beat up, or a classy one we should be jealous of?”

She shot him a look. “Neither. Just... the past being its usual dramatic self.”

“Ah,” Arohi said knowingly, sitting on the edge of her desk. “The kind of past that shows up uninvited but looks too good to throw out.”

Mira chuckled softly despite herself. “You two really need a hobby.”

“Watching you pretend you’re fine is our hobby,” Ishan said, sipping her coffee. “Now tell us who it was.”

Mira sighed. “Just someone I thought I’d never have to meet again.”

The silence that followed said enough.
Arohi reached out, giving her hand a light squeeze.

“Sometimes the universe doesn’t bring people back for closure. It brings them back to test if you’ve healed.”

Mira smiled faintly, whispering, “Then I’ve clearly failed that test.”

Before either could reply, her phone buzzed. A familiar name lit up the screen — Riya 💛.

She answered quickly. “Hey—”

Before she could finish, a little voice shrieked through the speaker.

> “Massi! Massi! It’s me, Mishi!”

Mira’s heart softened instantly. “Oh my god, my favorite munchkin! How’s my princess?”

The tiny girl giggled, showing her missing tooth on camera. “Mom says we’re coming day after tomorrow! I’ll bring you chocolate — but only if you let me sleep on your bed!”

“Deal,” Mira laughed. “But only if you promise not to kick me like last time.”

Riya’s voice came next, full of warmth and teasing. “So, Mrs. Das, what’s this I hear about sleepless nights and long silences? You okay, love?”

Mira tried to sound casual. “I’m fine, Riya.”

“Hmm,” Riya hummed knowingly. “That’s the same ‘I’m fine’ tone you used before you moved to Delhi to forget a certain—”