By: Maryam Iftikhar

You are close to me,
like the brightest star in the sky.
But when I lift my finger to touch it,
a devastating truth breaks me:
even in this world,
I’m still a million stars away from you.

Tides of longing sweep my soul.
My heart trembles,
thunder rolling across distant hills.
My thoughts unravel,
tangled in quiet struggle.
A single tear slides down my cheek
as I stare at the star—
my finger still frozen in the air.

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Maryam Iftikhar, a graduate of Kinnaird College for Women University, Pakistan, finds inspiration in poetry and art. Guided by creativity and reflection, she writes to capture emotions that transcend words. Her love for literature and curiosity about the world continue to shape her emerging voice as a thoughtful and expressive writer.