Zarina sat alone in Erikur's room, her fingers tracing the edge of his desk, feeling the absence in the familiar surroundings. His books were neatly stacked, his sneakers by the door, and his guitar rested against the wall, the things that once made the space feel like his. But now, it is different. Cold and empty. The silence in the room felt suffocating, each item around her a cruel reminder that he was never coming back.
She picked up his phone, her heart racing. Her mind told her that going through his personal things was wrong, an invasion of privacy. Yet, her heart, overwhelmed with confusion and grief, urged her to understand. What had he kept hidden? Why hadn't he shared this part of his life with her? She felt torn, the line between wanting to understand and feeling like a trespasser blurred beyond recognition.
With trembling hands, she opened his journal, the worn leather-bound book that had always been on his nightstand. She flipped through the pages, scanning his neat handwriting, looking for anything that could give her answers. Near the back of the book, her eyes froze on a list of passwords.
A lump formed in her throat. It felt like she was holding a key to his world, his life, something so personal. She wasn't sure if she was ready for what it could unlock. But the questions were too loud, too insistent in her mind. She had to know. She had to understand.
Zarina picked up his phone and typed in the first password. The screen flickered to life, and within seconds, a flood of notifications filled the screen, texts, emails, and social media alerts an avalanche of Erikur's life crashing into hers. Each ping, each message, felt like an intrusion into something she wasn't meant to see.
She stared at the messages, each one a window into his world. Some were lighthearted casual chats with friends, reminders of plans and jokes that made her smile. But the deeper she looked, the more she realized how much she had never known. Names she didn't recognize, conversations she didn't understand. Secrets hidden beneath the surface of a man she thought she knew.
The pressure of it all overwhelmed her. "Why hadn't he shared this with me?" The guilt gnawed at her, but she couldn't stop. She couldn't ignore it. She had to keep going.
Suddenly, a memory swept over her a Saturday afternoon not long ago. The sun had streamed through the window, casting a golden glow on the couch where Erikur had been lounging, phone in hand, a wide grin on his face.
"Hey, Zarina, check this out!" he had called out, his voice filled with excitement. He patted the seat next to him, as if inviting her into something wonderful.
She hesitated for a moment before sitting beside him. She had always been cautious about the digital world, unsure of the risks of oversharing. But Erikur, with his carefree confidence, had always seemed at ease with it. She glanced at his phone, half-expecting some funny meme or viral video. Instead, Erikur had handed it to her with a smile, showing her a post on social media.
"See? It's all about just being yourself," he'd said, his voice light, almost teasing. "Who cares if anyone judges you?"
Zarina had frowned, unsure. "But isn't it risky? Posting so much online?"
Erikur had laughed, the sound carefree, as always. "Nah, not really. People are too busy with their own stuff to pay attention. Plus, you can control what you share. Social media's just a tool, not the real you."
At the time, Zarina hadn't thought much about it. She had trusted Erikur, and believed in his simplicity. But now, with his phone in her hands, she wondered was it really that simple?
She clicked on Instagram, the app flashing open, and the first post she saw made her heart tighten. It was a photo of Erikur, smiling broadly, his arms wrapped around a group of friends, all laughing together under the bright sunlight. The caption read: "Grateful for the friends who make life an adventure. You know who you are."
Zarina's chest constricted, and for the first time, she realized just how much of Erikur's life had been shared with others. She had never fully grasped how much of him had been poured into the digital world, how easily he had connected with people she didn't even know. The flood of comments under the post made her breath catch. Rest in peace, Erikur. You always made us laugh.You'll be missed, buddy. So many memories. Each message was a sharp reminder that she hadn't seen this side of him. A side he had opened up to others, but not to her.
Tears welled in Zarina's eyes as she swiped through more posts, pictures from his travels, photos with friends, his unguarded moments. It was a life that had existed alongside the one they had shared, a life she hadn't known about.
Then, she saw it. A post from his best friend, Liam. The photo showed Erikur and Liam sitting on the roof of their house, both of them lit by the warm glow of the setting sun. The caption read: "To my brother, my partner in crime. There's no one else I'd rather spend every sunset with. Forever in my heart."
Zarina felt the weight of the words press down on her chest. She hadn't known how deep Erikur's bond with Liam had been. She hadn't realized just how much of his heart had been shared with others. That was a side of him she would never fully know.
She moved to Facebook next, scrolling through more posts. Old photos from high school, memories of Erikur's wild sense of humor, tributes from people she had never met. She paused on a message from a woman named Rachel: "Erikur, you were always there when I needed you. I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye. Rest in peace, my friend. You'll always be in my heart."
Zarina's heart clenched. She didn't know Rachel. She didn't even know Erikur had kept in touch with her. It was like a punch to the gut realizing that Erikur had given pieces of himself to people beyond their small circle, people she had never been a part of. How much had I missed?
Her hands shook as she clicked on LinkedIn. She didn't expect to find much, but when the page loaded, she froze. Erikur had a professional profile. A serious one. He was standing proudly in front of a project, his eyes full of passion. Messages from colleagues praised his creativity, his drive. "Erikur, your creativity and drive were unmatched. You will be missed."
The realization hit her like a brick. Erikur had lived a life she didn't fully understand, a life that went beyond their shared world. She had been a part of his life, yes, but she had never known the full picture.
Zarina sat back, overwhelmed by the weight of everything she had uncovered. She had spent so long believing they had shared everything. But now, she was left alone in his room, surrounded by a life she would never truly be a part of. His professional achievements, his personal connections they were all pieces of him she would never fully comprehend.
And then, the email.
Her breath caught as she opened a message from a creative platform Erikur had been subscribed to. The subject line read: "Your project is due soon! Don't forget to submit your final draft."
Zarina felt her stomach drop. Erikur had been working on something, something important. She opened the email to find a reminder for a submission deadline, a note about the potential to be featured in an upcoming issue.
The guilt settled over her like a heavy weight. Erikur had been so passionate about his creative work, and yet she had never been a part of it. The realization stung sharply. He had lived a life beyond the one she had known, and now, she was left to piece it all together alone.
Her fingers hovered over the gaming folder on his laptop. She had never really understood his passion for gaming, but she knew it had been something important to him. When she clicked on the folder, her eyes widened. Hundreds of hours logged in various games, achievements unlocked, worlds built. The depth of his involvement, the care he had put into these digital worlds, was something she had never fully understood.
She clicked on a game she recognized. It was a fantasy game he had been obsessed with for months, one where players built characters and battled in vast, magical worlds. In that moment, Zarina realized that Erikur had lived a world beyond her grasp, a world that had mattered to him deeply. And now, all she could do was watch as it slipped further away, piece by piece.