there is no tomorrow to love

You know how sometimes, someone walks into your life and just changes everything? Like, suddenly, the world feels a little warmer, a little lighter,and just like that, you've got this real, effortless reason to smile. Not the polite, “I should probably look nice” smile, but the kind that sneaks up on you and lights up your whole face.

When I started this job, I was kinda scared to talk to anyone. Most people were older - Millennials mostly, and I wasn’t sure how to even start conversations without feeling like I’d said something wrong. It’s weird adjusting to a space where you don’t know the rules yet.

And then she walked in. Or rather, walked up to me.

Soft voice, warm energy, the literal embodiment of gentle femininity. She asked if I could help with some photo shoots. I was free, sure, but it wasn’t just that; something about her tone, her presence, just pulled me in. And that was it. That was how I met the woman who’d end up becoming my comfort space… my “work mom.”

Technically, she’s only a few years older than me, but it often feels like she’s lived five lives before I even had my morning horlicks. She’s graceful, gentle, mature, kind of like peace wrapped up in human form. And me? I’m the complete opposite. Loud. Clumsy. A walking whirlwind who somehow trips on air and laughs too loud.

We’re total opposites, but that’s what makes it work. She brings calm; I bring chaos. She glides; I stumble. And somewhere in between, we fit. It’s one of those friendships that just… UK happens. No pressure. No awkward start. Just two people colliding at the right time. Even with completely opposite personalities. And yet, weirdly, we’re the same. We both wear our hearts on our sleeves, both sensitive to the world in ways that feel like both a gift and a curse. 

I've always believed in those “meant to be” kind of connections. For me people are poems, and I know their letters and words are already etched in my story, it's up to us how we use the letters and words to create sentences, or rather "Poems". Think about it, the odds of me existing? 1 in 400 trillion ig? idk.  The odds of her and all the people I've ever met existing? Same. The odds of us working the same job, in the same place, at the same time? Literally *boom* mind-blowing hehe. But somehow, here we are. And honestly speaking, I feel like the luckiest person alive to have found my “work mom.” Not everyone has that privilege. Honestly, if you’ve got someone like that at work, a mentor, a friend, a safe space, never take it for granted. It’s rare. And while people love to say, “Work is just work, they aren't your friends or family” comeonnnnnn we spend almost our entire day with our colleagues. Pretending they're just mechanical machine in a body mannequin and nothing more? That’s exhausting. But finding someone you genuinely connect with? Now that's a gift.

She was always there for me, guiding, cheering, and protecting. She taught me so much without ever making it feel like a lesson, or make me feel dumb. I'd run to her for everything, especially when I needed to send a super professional email (one thing I've learned is chatgpt is um idk, it does 90% of the job writing mails, but most of the times it sounds super fake and super formal). I've already said you - I'm sensitive and when people make me cry I would run up to her, and be like " that meanie made me cry, bad person -_-" or even after work if I had to go to a shady place she was my go to "I'll send you the location, UK just in case" kinda person.

Lately, though, the office has felt a little quieter. A little colder. She’s on a break right now, and I miss her. Like, reallyyy miss her. I still glance over at her empty seat like she might magically appear with her half-smile, ready to say something like,

“No, Devi. That’s not how you write an email.”

or “Devi, stop trusting people so easily.”

or " Devi, i can hear your music seeping through your headphones."

She always knew when something was wrong. She had this quiet strength, calm but strong. She held space for me when I was messy, loud, all over the place. And I miss that. I miss her. Theres another person someone who also always knows when I’m a little sad. Let’s call her Missy. She’ll gently ask, “What’s wrong, Devika? Did someone say something?” She says my sadness echoes in my face. Says I’m terrible at hiding it.

It’s wild right? how someone’s presence can anchor you. And it’s even wilder how you don’t fully realize it… until they’re not there.

Every day feels a little off without our earlyyy morning chats, I come to office early and just sit and glance at her empty table which a 3D - printer has now conquered, our rants, our “Wait, listen to this!" or "I might have kinda did a lil something... hehe” gossip updates. She was the one who got the full story, screenshots, receipts, the whole deal. And somehow, she never made me feel judged. Just heard, understood and loved.

There’s something special about sharing space with someone. Not texts, not calls just being there. And when that goes missing? You feel it. You'll learn and get over the silence, sure, but sometimes in the quiet of a sleepy afternoon, you'll feel it. Because people are poems, you'll learn new poems as you grow up, but reading back into old poems still brings that familiarity. Makes u grateful for even knowing your poems. 

Some people leave footprints in your life. She left a whole damn map. And I’m still walking it. Smiling at the memories, learning from the lessons, hoping we’ll meet again, maybe at work, maybe somewhere else. But sure enough, I’ll carry her with me.

But here’s the thing---- time moves fast. Chapters close. People drift. And maybe, someday, all of this will just be a beautiful memory. But that doesn’t make it any less real right now. It matters. She matters. This friendship matters. Everything and everyone around me matters.

And that brings me to the heart of it all -

Why do people love like there’s a tomorrow?

Why do we hold back? Why do we wait? Why do we assume we’ll always have more time to say the things we really feel?

We take time for granted -and that’s the tragedy. We love passively. Slowly. Lazily. We save the “I miss yous” and the “I love yous”  and the "I'm Sorrys" for later, for when our egos calm down a little bit and we truly feel bad for the person. We treat love like a task on a to-do list. And before we know it, later never comes. Just sit and think about all of your connections lost for some fragile ego.. 

And then, maybe ask yourself... 

Was it worth it ?

Love or rather connections are't built on later. It’s built on now.

I’m not just talking about romantic love. I mean it all; friendship, family, coworkers who become your safe space or just people you call when u need to talk to. When people feel unseen or forgotten, they drift. And by the time we realize what we lost, we’re left with silence and the could-have-beens.

So why not love like there’s no tomorrow? Why not hold your poems a little tighter, speak your heart a little louder, and make today count? hold their hands today, give them the "just becasue flowers", tell your friends they how much they matter to you. Love is the one thing that makes this world feel less chaotic. It’s what tells someone: “You matter. We matter. All of this matters” It’s how we turn fleeting moments into something eternal - into poems.

If there’s one thing I hate other than idli, it’s people who act nonchalant and think being mysterious is cool. Acting uninterested isn’t a personality trait. Ignoring texts doesn’t make you mysterious. Pretending you don’t care doesn’t make you valuable.It just makes you miss out on real connections. You’re not being chased but you’re being avoided. No one’s sitting around thinking, “Wow, their emotional unavailability is so attractive.” Cool. Just they'll just match your energy and move on. Stop making people feel stupid for liking you. For caring about you. Stop acting like enthusiasm is embarrassing. Because real connections aren’t built on egos. They’re built on effort, honesty, and people showing up.

And in a world this uncertain, loving like there's no tomorrow is an act of hope.

Of rebellion.

Of choosing meaning.

So if you love someone - say it.

If you miss someone - tell them.

If you want to apologise- Keep ur ego aside and just say sorry, it won’t cost you a dime.

If someone made your day better let them know.

Don’t wait for tomorrow.

Because honestly?

This moment might be all we’ve got.

us twining here

-Devika