Ayaan always smiled.
At school, with friends, at home—his smile never faded. People thought he was the happiest boy they knew. No one ever asked what was hidden behind that smile.
Every night, when the world fell asleep, Ayaan sat alone by his window. The moonlight touched his face, and his tears slowly fell onto his notebook. He wrote stories, not for others to read, but to save his broken heart.
His father had left years ago.
No goodbye.
No letter.
No explanation.
His mother worked day and night to survive, leaving little time for comfort. She loved him, but exhaustion had stolen her warmth. And Ayaan understood. So, he never complained.
At school, he was silent about his pain. When teachers asked, "Are you okay?" he always replied, "Yes, Sir."
But inside, he was screaming.
He missed having someone who would listen. Someone who would say, "I'm proud of you." Someone who would hold his hand when life felt too heavy.
One rainy evening, Ayaan failed his final exam.
He sat under a tree, watching the rain mix with his tears. For the first time, he whispered,
"I tried… I really tried."
That night, he almost gave up.
But then, he opened his old notebook and read his own words. Pages full of pain, hope, and silent prayers. He realized something important—
He was still alive.
He was still fighting.
He was still standing.
Maybe no one saw his struggle.
But God did.
And that was enough… for now.