I glare at the boy who's currently sitting in front me. It's been minutes since he made me sit right here listening to nothing. Ya, nothing. Half an hour passed by in silence. There wasn't a word from either side.

I decide not to ruin the little moment of peace. He'll be the first one to break it anyways. That's how it's always been from the start. Looking at him, I start recollecting the memories. The memories of our meeting. Now now I don't mean it like the 'romantic' meetings, ours was quite .... different? I guess 'different' is the word.

As far as I remember, we met in a graveyard. Yes, a graveyard. It's always been my favourite place. I met him when I was thirteen. Mom used to visit our dad's grave quite frequently and whenever she did, she broke down. I wanted to give her some space so I used to wander off. It was on a day like that when we met. I saw him standing still, staring blankly at a pair of graves. He wasn't alone, there were quite a few people around him but he didn't seem to interact with them. He silently stood in a corner, all by himself, staring.

I mustered the courage to go and speak to him, atleast ask his name. I went ahead. I didn't know why, but at that moment I felt as if asking him his name was my top priority in the world.

He was standing there, expressionless like a stone. Absolutely no hint of emotions on his face.

I approached him with caution, a feeling of tension building inside me, and finally his stare shifted to me. He noticed me.

After a moment of silence which lasted for two minutes, finally he broke it. "Do I know you?" he asked.
"Nope" I replied, feeling like a stupid.
"Oh" was all he replied.
"So...what's a girl like you doing in here?"
"Look who's speaking."
"I have a reason."
"Even I have one."
We stared at each other, an understanding was established between us.
"So what's your story? Miss unknown?" he asked, with no hint of emotion in his voice.
"Oh, I lost my father. He died in an accident" I said. Later I realised I gave too much away to an unknown person.

"Oh" was all he said.
I felt angry. How could 'oh' be all he says. Dosen't he know the feeling of loosing someone? I felt like knocking him down. But then what's the use. I gave up.

"What's your story? That is if you have one." I asked.
"Oh yeah I do have one I guess?" he said.
"And that is...?" I asked.
"Well, you see those two graves out there, its my parents' grave. It's been two years since..." he started laughing.
"I'm sorry, I...", before I could complete my sentence I felt a warm sensation down my cheeks. Apparently they were tears.
"Why are you crying?", he said.
"I don't know", I murmured.
It's just that I didn't cry when my dad died, and hearing this boy's story, I realised that we both have lost precious people whom we can never get back.No matter how much we try. They have bid us a permanent farewell.

"Smile", he said.
"How can I?" ,I said with a trembling voice.
"Because my parents told me whenever I smile, they'll know it and they'll be happy if I'm happy" he said.
"How can you ever be happy?" I could make out that I literally screamed this time.
"Because I have to. For them. For me", he said.
Then I realised how much pain he had gone through to put a fake smile on his face. He was way stronger than I was.
"It's ok...I understand. But you don't have to fake it with me...after all, we share the same story." I said without realising what I said. I just behaved like I was his...friend.

He was shocked for quite a while before he broke into a laughing fit, which was later accompanied by tears.
He cried.
For a long time he cried.

I averted my gaze to make him feel at ease. After all, crying in front of someone is embarrassing.

After some time, he said "So what's your name , friend?"

And that's how it all started.