….. ALAS!!!
Elias woke up with tears rolling down his eyes. The first he did after waking up was to call Sana and asked her to meet.
December 31st, 2035
Snow covered the narrow street outside their favorite café — the one with old mismatched chairs and fairy lights in the window.
Sana sat by the window, tapping her pen on a paper napkin. Across from her, Elias looked at the city blur behind the glass.
Her eyes flick to him — soft, tired, nervous than when he first found her dribbling a ball under a winter sky.
Ten years. She'd promised herself: 2035 is the end.
Tonight, it's here.
She pushes the napkin across the table. On it:
"I think it's time."
His chest tightens, eyes filled with tears , his hands shaking hard , writes,
"Are you asking for permission?"
She shakes her head, a ghost of a smile.
"No. I just thought you deserved to know. You always deserved to know."
The fireworks started before midnight. The cafe was half-empty — the world out there was celebrating and toasting to a new year she never planned to see.
She reaches for her bag — old, frayed at the edges. Pulls out that same battered journal he once read by accident.
Flips to the first page. The same words:
"Make enough money.
Be free.
Ten years."
She sets it in front of him.
"You asked me once — why ten years. It was because I was giving myself another chance to search for old me. But, But I wasn't able to do so.", sighs… (Looks out the window)
His heart clenched. His tears roll down the cheeks. He burst out…
"Sana.. please.. please don't leave. I promise to keep you happy. I promise to go against the world for you when needed. Please…. Stayyy". he bawled .
She smiled softly and said..
"Thank you! Thank you Elias. For loving me so much, for being the reason to live, for being the reason to find my new version of me. Thank you"
He kept on crying and she kept on smiling.
She took the diary and scribbled something and left the cafe.
Elias kept on staring at her till she got out of the door. He kept crying for 5 minutes. And finally took a deep breathe and opened the diary she left behind.. where she wrote:
"I loved you and will always love you. Stop crying now. Wipe your tears. And come out of the cafe , it's the first snow of the year and I want to start 2036 being in your arms …. Stop snobbing you stupid. I am not leaving, so be RESPONSIBLE!! SIR!"
He rushed out of the cafe - saw her underneath the streetlamp, glowing as a fairy, beautiful, happy, blooming in midst the cold snow. She stretched out her arms calling him to give her a strong hug … He rushed towards her and gave her a tight hug..
"I LOVE YOU, ELIAS"
"I… I LOVE YOU TOO, SANA"
Beneath the dim street light , they promised to stick together till death do them apart.
HE WAITED
SHE LEARNED TO LOVE
LOVE BROUGHT A LIFE IN THEM!!
"TEN YEARS AND MORE WITH YOU…"