The Last Meeting

.

---

Title: The Last Meeting

Rain had always been Ayesha’s favorite thing. For her, it was like a scent — one that brought back childhood memories, old loves, and deeply buried desires.

But today’s rain… felt like a punishment.

Outside the window, the drops hit the glass in quick succession, as if someone had made the sky cry.

Ayesha sat on the old sofa by the window, a mug of coffee in her hand, but she wasn’t drinking it. Her eyes kept drifting to the chair across from her — the same chair Hamza always used to sit in.

He would order two cups of coffee every time — one for himself, one for her — no matter if she was angry or happy. He knew that after two sips of coffee, her anger would melt away.

But today… the chair was empty.

---

Their First Meeting — Two Years Ago

It was two years ago, at a friend’s wedding. The air was loud with laughter, music, and chatter. Ayesha had slipped away to a quiet corner when a tall man with a light beard and a strange spark in his eyes approached.

"Why are you sitting here alone?" he asked with a smile.

"I’m not a fan of noise," she replied softly.

"Then we’re the same," he chuckled. "I’m only here because my mother thought I was bored."

That was Hamza. And that one meeting… became the most beautiful coincidence of her life.

---

Love Over Time

Even after the wedding, they kept meeting — sometimes at the park, sometimes at the café, sometimes in the library.

Hamza had a line he always said to her:

"Love doesn’t grow with time; it grows with moments. And you are the reason for all my moments."

They could talk for hours, or sit in silence and still understand each other. Rainy days were special — Hamza would always say, "Your face looks even more beautiful in the rain."

---

The News — Six Months Ago

One day at the café, Hamza held her hand and said,

"I’ve been offered a job abroad… just for six months."

It felt like someone had stabbed her heart, but she forced a smile.

"Six months will pass quickly. And then you’ll come back."

Hamza’s gaze softened.

"Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll wait for me."

"I don’t make promises," she teased, "because you’ll never leave in the first place."

But life has a cruel way of proving people wrong.

---

The Silence

The first few weeks after he left, they spoke every day. They told each other every little detail of their lives.

And then… one day, the calls stopped. The messages stopped.

Ayesha tried endlessly to reach him, but it was as if Hamza had vanished from the face of the earth. Nights turned into sleepless hours, and days into restless waiting.

One question echoed in her heart: Did he leave me?

---

Today’s Rain — A Meeting or an Ending?

After six long months, Ayesha decided to return to their café. Maybe, just maybe, he would come today.

The rain was getting heavier when the café’s bell rang. Her heart skipped a beat. She looked up…

It was Hamza. But… he was on crutches, his face thinner, yet his eyes still carried the same light.

---

The Truth

Hamza walked slowly to her table.

"I wanted to write to you, but… I couldn’t gather the courage," his voice trembled.

"There was an accident. I lost the use of my legs. I thought… I shouldn’t ruin your life. So I stayed silent."

Tears streamed down Ayesha’s cheeks.

"Hamza… you thought I would leave you? Love isn’t about the body; it’s about the heart. And my heart… is with you."

His lips quivered.

"So… you’re still waiting for me?"

She reached out, holding his hand firmly.

"I never stopped."

---

The End

Outside, the rain had stopped.

But in their eyes, a new rain began — one of love, loyalty, and a promise never to let go.

That corner of the café, empty for six months, was whole again.

---