A Letter to Myself 

Sonal Jhajj posted under Flash Fiction QuinTale-44 on 2022-09-18



As I was about to sit on the window sill, glancing at the majestic beauties of the night sky, sipping my warm siesta, a message notification pops up on my mobile.  Clinching my cup I read a message  "Missed you today". As I had missed school that day due to some emergency commitments, my friend Shikha who was my greatest support during those days had a bad day on the day I missed.  I called her the next day early morning first thing. She had a bad hair day and a bad day in school too. She usually misses me when I take a leave. I asked her the reason and she poured her heart out. Her words broke me too as she was not efficient in her teaching and looked upon me as her biggest support. I pacified her, made her laugh, and finally, she felt at ease. As I was about to take a sip of my early morning herbal tea, memories of those days when I was teaching my children in school started to flash back in front of my eyes. The pure little angels who had no formal education in any school had found an angel in me . Teaching them, dancing with them, listening to their little babbles became my daily happiness routine. Two years passed by in speed. The children had found a mother in a teacher. One morning I decided I wanted to take a break to recharge myself. The news about my leave spread faster than the speed of light.  Children couldn't accept the real truth of my leaving for break. As I was about to do last-minute checking of the books and other things, I got up from my chair a crumpled piece of paper clinged onto my seat. I turned around to see what was written on that paper. I opened the crumpled paper, my emotions got better of me, my heart refused to read the contents of the paper. On the paper were colorful scribbles of my children having written " Don't Leave " dear teacher, we will miss you. These two words touched the core of my heart. Tears dripping down I walked back home. These two words gave me a sleepless night.  Next morning I woke up with a heavy heart, made my tea, sitting on the window my heart whispered to me  "Don't leave".  I got the message from the universe. As I was about to get ready to go back to my pure souls, I receive a message on my mobile " The school is shut due to the scare of covid ". Further notifications will be updated soon  Date 13th March 2020 - Lockdown was imposed in my city.  That paper "Don't Leave  is still with me.   Penmancy gets a small share of every purchase you make through these links, and every little helps us continue bringing you the reads you love!