"One Picture And One Story Week #79"

Hi Steem For Pakistan community! How is about your health? With your kind prayers I am safe and sound. I am here again today with a new story. Surely you are doing well. I love to say thanks dear ma'am @suboohi for this contest.

In 2019, there was a cold evening of winter. The sun was about to setting. The colour of sky was soft orange and pink shades. Ahmad and Ayesha stood near the quiet but beautiful lake. The lake was surrounded by leafless trees. This place was special. This was where they had first confessed their love.

Freepik

Ahmad sat on the ground and his head resting against Ayesha’s chest. She wrapped her arms around him tightly. Looking that as if she never wanted to let go. Ayesha was smiling, but there was sadness in her eyes, she could not hide. She did not want Ahmad to see her tears.
Ayesha asked, "Are you feeling cold?" Infact Ayesha was trying to distract herself from pain of heart.
Ahmad said. "No. I feel warm. You are here."
His words made her chest tighten. She knew that he was lying. His body had grown weaker in the past few weeks. Ahmad had a cancer on last stage. It was taking over, slowly stealing him away from her.
"My wish is, this moment could last forever," Ahmad whispered, closing his eyes.
Ayesha swallowed her tears. "Me too," she said softly.
But they both knew the truth.
Ahmad was leaving on the next morning forever. His cancer had reached a stage where there was no treatment left. Doctors had given up. He had stopped fighting.
Ayesha had begged him to try one more treatment, but Ahmad had refused. He said "I want to spend my last days with you not in a hospital bed. I want to be with you. I want to be here, in this place, where our love started."
The cold wind blew around them, making the dry branches of the trees sway. The world around them felt silent, like too, was mourning their love.
Ahmad took a shaky breath. "Promise me one thing?"
Ayesha nodded, unable to speak.
"Whenever you feel lonely… just remember this hug."
Ayesha felt something break inside her. She gripped him tighter, as if she could stop time. Which she could keep him here, with her, forever and forever.
"Don’t talk like this," she whispered.
Ahmad smiled weakly. "You know I have to go."
She shook her head. "Not yet. Stay a little longer."
He nodded. "A little longer."
Ayesha closed her eyes, memorizing the feeling of him in her arms. His warmth, his scent, and his heartbeat.
The next morning, Ahmad was gone.
But his warmth, his love, his last hug stayed with Ayesha forever.
She returned to the same place every winter, wearing the same red coat he had loved. She would sit under the same tree, close her eyes and feel his embrace.
Even in death, he never truly left her.