Chapter 8: Too Late to Return
The twilight in the village that evening felt gray.
The sky was overcast, as if mourning something, too.
At the end of a narrow alley, Rey stood frozen.
In front of him, a large house was filled with guests.
Wedding decorations still hung in place—white balloons and golden ribbons.
The scent of jasmine filled the air.
But what took Rey's breath away… was her.
Aurel.
Dressed in a white wedding gown.
Her face was beautiful, but her eyes… empty.
Rey wanted to step forward. But his feet refused to move.
The world seemed to stop spinning.
His hands trembled as he held the small box in his pocket—the ring he had bought for Aurel.
Too late.
Suddenly, Aurel turned.
Their eyes met.
Time stood still.
Aurel covered her mouth. Tears fell down her cheeks. Her hands shook.
Damar, her husband, was chatting with guests—completely unaware.
Rey walked slowly.
Until he stood just a few steps away from Aurel.
"I… I came back," Rey said softly.
Aurel looked at him like a nightmare come true.
"Why… only now?"
"I wanted to keep my promise…"
Aurel looked down. More tears fell.
"I waited for you, Rey… But you never came… never sent a word…"
"I was working. Day and night. I wanted to become someone worthy of you."
"But you stayed silent for too long… Everyone thought you abandoned me… And I started to believe it, too…"
Rey looked into the eyes he had missed for years.
But now, those eyes no longer belonged to him.
"Are you happy?" Rey asked quietly.
Aurel was silent for a long time.
"I don't know…"
And in that moment, a voice called from the distance.
"Honey, where are you?" Damar's voice.
Aurel turned away…
And walked back, leaving Rey standing alone.
The small ring box slipped from Rey's hand.
It hit the ground and opened.
Inside, a simple pair of rings—
But filled with hope.
And all that hope…
shattered that very day.