By Christina K Sangma
What brought us together were these thin blankets.
As I unpacked the boxes in my new apartment, I came across two old, faded blankets, one yellow with penguin prints, and the other blue with stars. I chuckled to myself, memories flooding in from six years ago on my first day of university.
Back then, I was excited about everything: new friends, new experiences, and endless possibilities. But as the months passed, things didn’t go quite as expected. I had only made two friends and spent most of my time attending lectures and studying alone.
One quiet afternoon, I was in the library flipping through books when a senior sat beside me and, to my surprise, started snoring! I tried nudging him, but he was in a deep sleep. Frustrated and tired myself, I blurted out, “Wake up!”
He jolted awake just as the librarian came storming in, demanding to know who yelled. Before I could confess, he raised his hand and took the blame. I was shocked. We both ended up suspended from the library for a month. As we walked out, I apologised over and over. He simply laughed and said, “It’s okay, I’ve never been suspended, it’s kind of exciting!”
That’s how I met Zeus.
He offered to help me with my assignment and even lent me his notes and books. From then on, we spent more time together, studying, eating, and walking around campus. He was kind, funny, and incredibly smart. What struck me most was his warmth. He had a way of making people feel like they belonged.
We shared stories, struggles, and quiet moments. I told him how hard it was to adjust, how I missed home. He listened. He once told me about a tough time in school when he was bullied, and how a random boy had stood up for him. “That boy,” he said, “was you.”
I was stunned. I didn’t remember it, but he did. It meant the world to him.
There was one particularly difficult day when cruel rumors were spreading about me. I was overwhelmed, confused, and alone. I ran to the dorm’s terrace and dozed off under the sky. When I woke up, a thin blanket covered me, the yellow one with penguins.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Zeus said softly, sitting beside me.
I looked at him, and for the first time in days, I felt safe. He told me not to listen to what people say, that real friends see your heart. We sat quietly, wrapped in those thin blankets, watching the stars. There were no big promises, just a quiet understanding that we would always be there for each other.
Now, years later, we’re still the best of friends, supporting each other through life’s changes. And as I hold this blanket again, I smile through my tears. Because sometimes, the simplest things, like kindness, friendship, and a thin blanket, can hold the most powerful memories.