In a matter of seconds, we found ourselves alone in the backseat of the school bus, our hearts racing with the thrill of being alone and the fear of being caught red-handed. Hesitant yet eager, we reached for each other, our lips meeting in a tender kiss that ignited a passionate spark between us. Kiranjeet stroked my face and ran her fingers through my hair. Stirred, I gently touched her breasts. We were both flushed and aroused. We had never felt anything like that before.

Time seemed to stand still as we lost ourselves in each other’s arms, our emotions swirling like a whirlwind around us. In that fleeting moment, Kiranjeet suddenly looked up at me with tears in her eyes and whispered, ‘Nirvaan, never leave me. You are my home.’

‘Never, Kiranjeet, never!’ I replied as I hugged her tightly.

We stopped after that. We never had sex. Never. But the kind of intense emotional fulfilment I experienced that afternoon … I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing it again in life.

There was something that filled the air that day, something that seemed like happiness, something that promised to never fade with the passage of time. But there are some things in life that you will feel only once.

Falling in love for the first time is like discovering a treasure buried within oneself. There will be butterflies dancing in your stomach all day long, and soothing melodies will play in the background through the night. Every glance that you exchange with your beloved will feel like a secret language spoken only by the two of you, and every touch will send shivers of excitement down your spine and leave a deep impression on your soul. Your emotions will run wild and the world will sparkle with brightness.

All I know for sure is that I was never the same again.

Same but Different

Kiana

Tuesday, 3 January 2023
Downtown Chicago

‘Sometimes, all you need is a little change.’