The World That Existed Only for Them - Part 12

 

Almost a Goodbye

The date was finally fixed.

Aarav mentioned it casually, the way one speaks of things that are inevitable. “I’ll be leaving by the end of the month.”

Ananya nodded. She had known it was coming. Knowing didn’t make it lighter, but it made it honest.

“That’s soon,” she said.

“Yes.”

They didn’t mark the days. They didn’t count meetings left. They continued as they always had—walking together when they could, sitting on the old bench, sharing small observations about the world.

One evening, rain returned. Not heavy. Just enough to blur the edges of things.

They stood under the same shelter where they had once waited without knowing each other.

“I’m glad I met you,” Aarav said, almost to himself.

“So am I,” Ananya replied. “Even if it had been only this.”

He looked at her then. Really looked.

“Even if it had been only this,” he repeated, not agreeing—just acknowledging the bravery in her words.

They didn’t speak of keeping in touch. They didn’t exchange promises disguised as practicality.

Yet when they parted that night, Aarav said, “Take care.”

And Ananya answered, “You too.”

They both knew those words carried more than courtesy.

This wasn’t a goodbye.

But it was close enough to make them feel the shape of loss.