The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as you and Elliana walked home from school.

You always listened to Elliana's chattering, but today it was consumed by a particularly frustrating day, because your classmate hasn't been listening to what you were discussing for the project. It all simmered inside you, a pressure cooker ready to explode. When Elliana, mid-sentence in mentioning how her day was, you snapped.

"Elliana, can you just shut up?!" You barked, the words harsher than you intended.

The vibrant energy that usually surrounded Elliana instantly dimmed. Her chatter ceased. The rest of the walk was filled with an uncomfortable silence.

At her doorstep, Elliana simply turned and went inside, offering no goodbye. You, normally quick with a playful retort or a lingering hug, remained speechless, you guilt a heavy weight in your chest.

Hours ticked by. The usual flurry of texts from Elliana, telling you anything that she had in mind, failed to materialize. Your phone remained stubbornly silent. You sent a text. Then another and another.

Each unanswered message chipped away your composure.

You hadn't meant to hurt her, you had just craved the solace of silence in your own turmoil. But the silence you had created was far more painful than you would ever imagined.

You pictured her, alone in her room, probably hurt and confused. The realization hit you hard, you had hurt the person you had loved most.

Finally, you dialed her number. But it went straight to voicemail. Panic tightened its grip. You knew Elliana. This wasn't like her. Her silence was a storm brewing, and you was at its epicenter.

You grabbed your jacket. You just had to see her, to apologize, to explain. You needed to remind her, and yourself, that even in your darkest moments, her bright spirit was something you cherished, something you never want to silence again.

You wouldn't rest until you heard her voice, her laughter, her endless stream of stories, even if it meant enduring a little more noise than usual.