The Last Letter – A Love That Never Ended

Rain pattered softly against the windowpane. Inside, the room was wrapped in a stillness broken only by the delicate tapping of raindrops. Saba sat at an old wooden desk, a yellowed letter trembling in her hands, its ink faded by time. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, but her gaze was lost in every word on the paper.

It was the last letter Zaid had sent her — five years ago. After that, everything had ended.

Saba and Zaid’s story had started with the most ordinary of encounters. They first met in the college lawn when Saba was sitting with a friend, jotting down notes, and Zaid came searching for a misplaced book. A brief exchange, a fleeting smile — and slowly, that chance meeting blossomed into a deep love. Zaid’s playful nature and effortless laughter wrapped themselves around Saba’s heart.

They would spend evenings in a small café near campus, sitting by the window with their favorite coffee, sharing dreams as if the future was theirs to design. At night, they would walk on the rooftop, talking about their plans as if the whole world belonged to just the two of them.

Saba believed, without a shadow of doubt, that their love would last forever. But life often turns down roads no one expects.

One day, Zaid took a deep breath and said, “Saba… I got a scholarship. I have to go to London.”

Her eyes filled with both joy and fear. “For how long?”

“Three years,” he replied.

Saba smiled, though unease pricked at her heart. “I’ll wait.” Zaid clasped her hand tightly. “You’re my promise.”

For the first year, they stayed connected — emails, late-night calls, and sometimes handwritten letters. But over time, the warmth in Zaid’s voice began to fade. His replies grew shorter, his messages more delayed. Then, one day, only a single letter arrived…

Letter:

"Saba, life has taken me down a path where having you by my side is no longer possible. You will always remain in my prayers, but I can no longer make you my life partner. — Zaid"

Saba read the letter again and again, each word cutting like a blade. She tried to reach him countless times, but there was never a reply.

Five years passed. Life went on, but Saba’s heart remained frozen in place. Suitors came and went, but she could not say yes to anyone. A hollow space had taken root in her chest.

Today’s rain brought back the weight of old memories. She went to the small wooden chest she had kept tucked away — the one holding all the things Zaid had given her. Old letters, faded photographs, and a small silver key wrapped in a note that read: “This will open the door to your dreams.”

She had never thought much about the key. But today, for reasons she couldn’t explain, her heart urged her to discover what it opened.

She remembered a small hut near Zaid’s house where they would often take shelter on rainy days and talk for hours. Perhaps the key belonged there.

The rain soaked through her clothes as she made her way to the hut. The rusty lock was still in place. Her hands trembled as she inserted the key — and to her surprise, it turned easily.

Inside, the air was musty and dim. On an old wooden table sat a box, her name written clearly on it: “Saba.”

Her heartbeat quickened. She opened the box. Inside was a diary and a letter.

Letter:

"Saba, if you are reading this, it means you kept the key. I lost you in London, but I never let you go from my heart. The truth is, I was ill, and I wanted you to be free so your life wouldn’t stop because of me. I knew if you found out the truth, you would never leave, and I couldn’t let you carry that burden. If I am not here today, this diary is my final gift to you — so you will know that every day, every moment, you were in my heart. — Zaid"

Saba’s hands shook as her tears fell onto the paper. But in those tears, there was a strange softness — a peace she had not felt in years. She began to turn the pages of the diary. Every entry held pieces of their love: moments they had shared, her favorite phrases, the way she smiled, the small quirks only he noticed. It was as if every word carried the fragrance of their past.

Saba pressed the diary to her chest. Outside, the rain had stopped, but a gentle light had begun to seep into her heart — a light she thought she’d lost forever.

Perhaps some loves never truly end. They simply hide inside a letter, waiting for the day they can be found again.