The deadline had arrived quietly while Amara keep staring at the email one last time with her finger hovering over the screen. Accepting the scholarship meant committing to six months away in new country and a new campus with new beginning. It also meant closing a door she wasn't sure she was strong enough to shut.
She thought of Nathaniel's face the last time they spoke. The restraint in his voice, the pain he hadn't tried to hide but loving him had been effortless so letting go was not the best thing to do.
She pressed accept.
The confirmation message appeared almost instantly. Her chest tightened, then slowly, she exhaled deeply and the decision was made and there was no undoing it now.
She didn't tell him immediately.
Part of her wanted to, part of her feared what his reaction would be. Instead, she focused on preparing documents, packing farewells she hadn't expected to feel so heavy.
Lila found out two days later that Amara we be leaving very soon.
You're leaving? she asked with her eyes wide.
For a while, Amara replied. "I need space"
Lila hugged her tightly and said "I'm proud of you".
Amara smiled, though it wavered "I'm scared though I can't tell how I feel"
"Then it matters" Lila said simply.
Nathaniel heard the news from someone else when he was in the middle of a meeting when his assistant leaned in and whispered it. His composure barely shifted, but something really cracked inside of him.
Six months later, it felt final in a way nothing else had happened.
That evening, he went home to an apartment that felt too quiet. Selene sat on the sofa, reading, and looked up when he entered.
"She accepted the scholarship" she said gently.
He nodded, "I know."
"You didn't stop her" Selene observed.
"I had no right to do that" he replied.
Selene closed her book and asked, Do you want to?
The question hung in the air.
"Yes" he said without hesitation. "But wanting doesn't make it right"
She studied him carefully. You're not wrong for feeling this way, but you're wrong if you think silence will save anyone
The words settled deep.
Two days before Amara's departure, Nathaniel went to the campus one last time and he found her near the old oak tree where students often sat to read. She looked up when she heard footsteps and froze when she saw him.
"I was hoping it was you" she admitted.
"I needed to see you" he replied.
They stood facing each other with the weight of the moment pressing in calmly.
"I heard you're leaving" he said.
"Yes, I will leave in two days"she replied.
He nodded slowly, "I wanted to say goodbye to you".
"So did I" she said, though her voice trembled slowly.
"I won't ask you to stay neither would I ask you to wait" Nathaniel replied .That wouldn't be fair if I do but just know I'm happy for you.
Tears filled her eyes as she said "Thank you."
"But I need you to know something" he continued, "This wasn't nothing to me you weren't a passing moment".
She stepped closer, tears slipping free from her eyes now. "You changed me"
He reached out hesitating and then gently brushed a tear from her cheek. The touch was brief, careful, but it felt like a goodbye written into her skin.
"I hope and pray you find everything you're looking for in life" he said softly.
"And I hope you find the courage to choose yourself too" she replied.
They didn't kiss neither did they embrace eachother rather they simply stood there, letting the moment settle.
Sometimes love was loud.
But this one was quiet and sweet
On the day of her departure, Amara stood at the airport gate, her bag at her feet, her heart heavy but steady. She looked back once, as though expecting to see him.
He wasn't there.
As the plane lifted into the sky, she closed her eyes and let the tears run down her cheek. Not because she regretted leaving, but because some loves never leave you, no matter how far you go in life
Back home, Nathaniel watched the city lights from his window, her absence echoing in every corner of his thoughts. Selene stood beside him with her presence calm.
"She'll be alright" Selene said.
"I know" he replied. "I just don't know if I will be alright too"
Selene placed her hand over his shoulder briefly. "Sometimes the heart remembers before the mind understands"." You just need to hold on to your self because definitely she would be very alright" said by Selena. Nathaniel was happy and sad at the same time for the departure of Amara. He prays All night for her to succeed and never forget him. Selena noticed some weird movements from Nathaniel that startled her. Are you ok? she asked.
As the night stretched on, both of them lay awake in different parts of the world, bound by an unfinished love, a story paused but not erased entirely.