THE SUMMER OF LOVE

'Sometimes, the little wishes we make may be granted to us' — Amzy_Bella

~★~

NOTE: The accounts of this chapter happened in the past.

~★~

"If truly there was a place we go when we die, where do you think I'll be?" Asked the woman who lay weakly in the arms of a young man. Her barely audible voice sounded strained and pained as her body was becoming weak with each passing second.

"Shush," the man quietened her from speaking more and drain her remaining energy. Veins popped out of his hand and his clenched teeth were enough evidence to show how restrained and controlled he was trying to be.

Holding and watching the life of the woman he loved with his whole being, slowly drifting away to the cold hands of death was an unexplainable pain that made his heart tightly clench and unclench in his chest. No matter how hard he tried to hold back, he couldn't stop the tears that clouded his eyes. Before he knew it, a lone tear escaped his eyes and flowed freely down his cheek.

He sucked in a deep breath and returned his attention to the woman who continued speaking in a rasped tone.

"Funny how I never want to return to this world that many are fighting every day to be in." she paused with a shaky intake of breath before continuing, "Some fought and forgot why and what they were fighting for. Such silly humans."

"If there was a next life, I wish I will never be born with a soft and naive heart." She stopped and made small anguish and mockery laugh, "Too bad I became knowledgeable at my death bed."

"You were never naive. Do not say that. Even if the world has a different perspective on what a knowledgeable person should be like, I still find you the most intelligent. And it is this quality that made me love and will forever love you. Do not say or let anyone tell you otherwise." The man said in a pained-filled voice. He was too heartbroken at the moment that his tone of voice sounded almost as if he was angry.

Yes, he was angry. Angry at the foolish and naive people. Angry at nature. Angry with the world. And most importantly, he was greatly angry with himself. If only he had been there. If only he was fast to take her away from the cruel people who used and now dumped her after they had no use for her. If only he didn't let go even when she told him to, she wouldn't have been here in his arms struggling to take her last breath.

Everything fell in the 'if only. If only' There was nothing he could do now than to watch her die in the same arms he wished and dreamt every day she will be in. In health and love, but rather, it was the other way round. It was in death and anguish.

The woman stared at him with a painful smile on her lips. She reached out her hand and weakly touched his teary cheeks.

She spoke after a long while of looking at him, "I'm sorry I didn't understand what you meant initially. I guess I was stupidly in the so-called love with him that I didn't see the light you were shining in the dark days that I thought were my brightest days. But I think I am late in seeing that light now."

"You're a man any woman will want to be with. You're kind, thoughtful, fearless, and above all, you understand everyone with their different opinions. I won't lie, I admired you so much and I still do, but I couldn't get to love you the way you did with me because my heart was already with him."

She stopped and coughed. Her cold shivering body shook in his arms uncontrollably for some minutes before she regained herself a little. Her health was becoming worst more than it was and by the look in her eyes, she only had a few minutes to spend on earth and with the man beside her.

"Stop talking and save your strength," The man chided with a frown on his face and the woman shook her head to a no. If he was going to lose her, he didn't want her to be in pain even if it was for a short while.

"Let me say these few last words. I don't think I'll be at peace wherever I might go from here if you don't hear it."

"Alright," he agreed after a while of pondering over it. He noted how her voice turned lower each time she spoke. She was nearing her end.

Her cracked lips bled and burned in pain when she tried to smile at the man as she weakly continued to speak, "For the short time I got to spend with you was surprisingly the best days of my life, and if one thing I would be selfish to wish for myself, it is to spend and see you in my next life if truly there was any. But I won't wish that, you deserve someone better than I am."

"Someone who will love you back and wholeheartedly as you loved me. You're an awesome person and a great friend to me and I thank my maker for meeting and sending someone like you to me."

The man watched and listened to everything she was saying with tears pouring down his eyes. He knew her time was near and he couldn't bear it anymore. No amount of preparation could stop him from experiencing the anguish and pain that was tearing his heart apart. Shred after shred. Like glass broken into a thousand pieces, that was how he felt. It was as if his heart will explode and put the world in flames.

"Don't cry while I'm gone, I don't deserve to be mourned by someone like you. With my last strength and life, I wish you happiness and love. May you find someone who will fill your heart with the love I couldn't give you. Farewell, my friend, I love you greatly"

And that was the last thing she said before she took her final and last breath. Her hand that has been holding the cheek of the man slowly slid down and fell. The small smile that was on her face all the while she spoke was still intact on her face as he painfully closed her eyes so she could rest peacefully in his arms.

He didn't know how many hours had passed since she passed away still lying in his arms as he sat on her mattress. His face was swollen and his eyes were red from pouring his anger and pains out. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply unable to accept her fate. Their fate.

With a determined look, he bent his head and slowly descended his lips on hers as if he was afraid he would hurt her. He kissed her lips, pouring all the love he had and had not confessed to her in it. If only she was alive, she would have gotten to feel what it felt like to be loved.

When he raised his head, his eyes were bloodshot. He declared, "Even in death, I promise to be with you. In your afterlife and many more lives, I'll forever love you, my love. Wait for me." He spoke with a determined spirit.

Just like how wishes are granted by fairy goddesses, the wish and pleas of the man were heard. 'Even in death' he had said and now he started convulsing for unknown reasons and some minutes passed before he couldn't hold it anymore and finally laid on the mattress beside her.

He caressed her cheek with a loving smile on his weak and pain-contoured face. "The heavens must have heard me and granted my pleas. Even in death, my love. I'll always find and be with you. I cannot wait for our reunion. I hope you remember me. But till then, I love you." And like the woman too, he took his final breath and slept peacefully beside her. Away from the world and its chaos. Just in the bliss of the peaceful darkness surrounding them.

_______★_______

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Welcome old and new readers. Thank you for giving the book a try, and I hope you'll continue to read it.

This book is a fictional book crafted out of my imaginations. So if you read about a carriage moving without the horses, please don't fret, it's all part of the plot.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much I enjoyed writing each scene and making each character come alive.

Your thoughts and corrections on the book are welcomed.

NIGHTS OF HALLOW is another of my book. You can search, add to library, read and also support me there too.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME WITH OUR CHARACTERS. <3