A Testimony of Love, you are...

I wrote this for a friend who's been through thick and thin with me..

Her graceful steps commanded the attention of everyone in the room, and as she moved, undeterred by the prejudiced glares around her, I couldn't help but be captivated. Yet, beneath her seemingly indestructible exterior, I knew that she carried a sliver of vulnerability, a secret treasure reserved only for those she held in the highest regard.
Then, our eyes met, and she graced me with a dazzling smile, but I could discern that it wasn't just for me; it was the kind of smile she shared with the world. The genuine, lop-sided smile she reserved solely for me was a treasure I held close to my heart, a silent testament to the connection we shared.
Confidence was a trait she always seemed to possess, or so the world believed. However, I had the privilege of knowing her innermost secrets, understanding that her nerves were on the brink of unravelling.

In the gentle embrace of a faint, golden spotlight during that ceremony, she transcended mere mortals, appearing as a celestial angel. Her ethereal violet gown gracefully swayed in the evening breeze, accentuating her elegance. Her black locks, typically tied up in a familiar ponytail, framed her face like a work of art. But what truly bewitched me were her long, fluttering eyelashes and her endlessly deep, obsidian pupils, glistening with a mischievous twinkle. In that moment, she had caught me in a trance, staring.

Chuckling softly, I stole a glance at the mesmerizing ombre sunset and the first glimmers of stars in the evening sky. With a silent prayer to the Universe, I wished for the whole world to recognize and cherish her just as I did. She was a radiant diamond amidst the chaos, a living testament to grace, beauty, honour, love, adventure, and unwavering determination. In her, I found a universe of qualities that left me utterly captivated...
As the hours drifted away, and the surroundings emptied of all but us, we reclined on the verdant, dew-kissed grass. In that moment, the thought of my white frock gathering stains seemed inconsequential, for when she was by my side, the world's trifles held no sway over me. Her very presence had the enchanting power to paint a smile upon my lips.

The once azure sky had now transformed into a deep, velvety expanse, nearly pitch
black, adorned with the stars we had often admired together. As we lay there, my finger traced the outline of a constellation, and her laughter filled the night. She confessed that she hadn't delved into the stars as I had, always the witty one.
The night unfolded unlike any other night we had shared. A heavy secret lingered between us, a weight that she sensed without a single word passing my lips. Her gaze spared me the need to articulate the unspoken, knowing that the revelation would unfold when the cosmos deemed it right.

A solitary tear escaped the confines of my eye, tracing the path of my inner turmoil. The ache in my heart intensified, not from the knowledge that this would be our final encounter, but from the realization that, once departed, she would be robbed of any recollection of our shared moments. Observing her from the shadows, I witnessed her fingers fidgeting with the black ring adorning her hand. In that moment, I knew she had caught sight of my tear, her eyes reflecting the shimmer of unshed tears.
The truth, concealed for so long, begged to be unveiled. I had made a pact with Death, an exchange of my soul for hers. In the wake of a near-fatal accident, I had pledged my life to the Universe, bargaining with the ethereal forces to spare her existence.
Death had cautioned me, forewarning me of the brevity of her life. I had accepted, sealing my fate. It was almost time to finish my end of the deal… With only 8 hours remaining before my existence faded away, my sole intention was to shower her with all the love I could afford knowing that she wouldn’t remember a thing.

As I turned towards her, the words escaped my lips, "You're not incapable of love. I can sense it lingering in your thoughts. There's nothing in this world that you're incapable of..." except perhaps making me resent you, I thought, my unspoken words echoing in the space between us.
A profound silence enveloped us, a moment suspended in time. I gazed around, imprinting every detail, every sight I'd never witness again. As sleep gradually overcame us, the stars shimmered, casting their celestial glow upon our forms.
"Why did you do it?" she whispered, her words barely audible in the tender warmth of the early morning, as the sun began its ascent on the horizon.
"Because you deserve a life filled with the happiness you were denied as a child," I confessed. "I've lived my fill, and you were always the source of my joy. I wanted you to know that you were never alone in this world, that love surrounded you. Selling my soul to Death is the least I can do to prove how deeply I care."

"But you're leaving me alone," she protested, her voice filled with the ache of impending loss. "The happiness you bring me surpasses all the joy in the world combined."
A weighty silence lingered after her words, catching me off guard. It was surprising; I had always assumed that she harboured regret over meeting me. After all, I possessed everything she had lacked as a child�"I had been surrounded by love at every stage of my life. Strangely, I had chosen to elude it, opting to run away, while she had spent her entire existence in pursuit of the elusive embrace of love.
As is sensing the currents in my mind, she whispered softly, " Knowing your past never deterred my heart from gravitating towards yours, nor did it stop me from finding your face among a thousand people in a room...Your choices have woven you into the fabric of my life, and there's no room for regret in my heart."

" The mere thought of living a life without you sickens me... knowing that you never regretted me has truly opened my eyes to the love you show... I'm always with you, if not around you, I am forever etched your heart, a constant presence that time nor distance can diminish."

"You're still oblivious, aren't you? The very fool I thought you were," she teased with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with affection. "I heard the whispers about you, but against all reason, I invited you into my world. Little did I anticipate that your laughter, love, and your extraordinary essence would erase the pains of my loneliness You've become the unexpected joy that I never knew I needed," she confessed, delivering her words with that lopsided grin I'd grown quite fond of.

My heart beat faster, for I knew my time on this earth was coming to an end.. it would be my last chance to feel happiness, love, anger, sorrow, pain and all humane emotions...

"I'm afraid I cannot undo what I've agreed to and don't waste your breath trying to convinve me otherwise.. Be the psychologist you are and believe in others like you did in me.. for all your free therapy, I pay you now with this smile", I said, giving her my stupid, goofy, grin only she had witnessed, my voice trembling...

A few people ventured into the tender morning, with the sky draped in hues neither fully bright nor entirely dark, carrying with them my coffin and I whispered my final words to the world.." As per your advice " I said, watching her laugh one last time, a melodic echo that lingered, and jumped into my coffin as my soul let go of my body...

Years later, a stranger's coffin on which was engraved, Death is lonely but I'll win over Death's heart just like I did yours and don't you dare lose faith in your heart...it always remembers, she read and thought, the chocolate store ran out of business when you left.

- Achala .K

Reviews

[Rob Churchward]

Loved the way you not so much entice but more grabbed and wrenched this reader into the forefront of the story as an observer with great interest and an ever greater affiliation with the main character and with this powerful emotion engulfing them.
The writing oozes with confidence and your descriptive terms really do paint a picture that's quite easy to become a part of. Thank you.

[Achala]

Thank you so much!!! I'm glad you love it!! ❤️

[HarleyCola]

You're very good at writing tragedies.

[Achala]

It's easier to write what we know first hand than what we do not..

[Achala]

Thank you though..appreciate it❤️