The school felt wrong without Matteo.
It wasn't loud enough.
It wasn't quiet enough either.
Something in between—an uncomfortable absence that lingered in the hallways, in the cafeteria, in the empty chair beside Amir's desk. His laughter was gone. His footsteps. Even his arguments. And somehow, that hurt the most.
They didn't sit still.
Not for one day.
Not for one hour.
The first thing they did was look.
They checked everywhere Matteo used to go—the art studio, the back of the library, the courtyard near the old oak tree, the stairs behind the science block where he liked to sit during breaks. Amir even checked the places Matteo never liked, just in case.
Nothing.
By the second day, hope turned frantic.
They whispered plans during class, passed notes during lunch, stayed up late talking in hushed voices in Amir and Leo's dorm. Maliya barely slept. Khadija kept insisting Matteo wouldn't just disappear like this—not without a word.
So they did something stupid.
Something desperate.
They tried to sneak out.
It was Leo's idea. Amir didn't stop him. None of them did.
They waited until the evening bell rang, hearts pounding, hands cold with fear. They almost made it past the side gate too—until a sharp voice cut through the dark.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The punishment was swift.
Detention. Warnings. Threats of suspension.
The principal's disappointment hurt more than the punishment itself.
"You are good students," he said, rubbing his temples tiredly. "Role models. What you're doing right now sets a dangerous example."
Silence filled the office.
"But," he continued, softer now, "I know grief when I see it. I know loyalty. And I know this school's reputation is safe with you."
They were dismissed—with one final warning.
No more chances.
No more searching.
They walked out together, shoulders slumped, hope bruised but not gone.
They still planned.
Quietly.
Carefully.
But something changed that afternoon.
When Amir returned to his dorm to grab his books, he noticed it.
A letter.
It was tucked neatly under his table, just visible enough to catch his eye. Plain. White. Untouched.
His breath caught.
Written on the front, in unmistakable handwriting, were four words:
For you all.
Amir didn't open it.
Not yet.
At lunch, he gathered everyone at their usual spot. The air felt heavy as he placed the letter on the table between them.
"I found this," he said.
Maliya's fingers trembled as she picked it up.
They opened it together.
Dear Soulmates,
I don't know how to start this without making it sound like a goodbye, and I hate goodbyes. So I'll just start honestly.
I know you tried looking for me.
I know you got in trouble.
And I'm sorry.
Please believe me when I say this—seeing how far you went for me means more than you'll ever understand. You didn't just look for me. You proved something to me that I never thought I'd have.
Family.
Not the kind you're born into. The kind you choose. The kind that chooses you back.
But please… stop.
What you've done is already enough.
More than enough.
I don't want you hurting yourselves because of me. I don't want you risking your futures, your safety, your peace. If there's one thing I can still control, it's this—I won't let my problems become your punishment.
I'm safe. Not happy. Not comfortable. But safe enough for now.
Being here isn't easy. Facing him isn't easy. But running away forever wouldn't have been easy either. I needed to do this—on my own—before it swallowed all of us.
Carry on. Laugh. Argue. Live.
And when you sit in our usual spots, know that I'm there too—quietly, proudly, holding every memory close.
You'll always be my people.
No matter where I am.
—Matteo
No one spoke.
Maliya pressed the letter to her chest, tears spilling freely now. Amir stared at the words until they blurred. Leo looked away, jaw clenched. Khadija reached for all of their hands at once.
That night, they didn't make plans.
They didn't whisper strategies.
They didn't search.
They just sat together—broken, hopeful, and waiting.
Praying that wherever Matteo was, he would be okay.
And that someday… he would find his way back to them.