Ruah was sitting in a lush, green park in the heart of a bustling American city, absorbed in the pages of It Ends With Us. The late afternoon sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the park, and the gentle rustle of leaves filled the air with a soothing symphony. It was her favorite time of day, when the world seemed to pause, allowing her a brief escape into the story she held in her hands. As Ruah became more engrossed in the book, she was pulled into a world where everything was possible and time seemed to stand still. She could almost feel the characters' emotions as if they were hers. The park, with its verdant beauty and tranquil ambiance, had become her haven, a place where she could reflect and lose herself in her thoughts. Suddenly, her tranquility was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a small, white ball that gently rolled to a stop at her feet. Startled, Ruah looked up to see a small boy, perhaps four years old, running toward her with an enthusiastic grin. His eyes, wide and curious, were strikingly familiar, and something about them made her heart skip a beat. The boy stopped in front of her, slightly out of breath, and held out his tiny hands, silently asking for the ball. Ruah picked it up, and as she handed it to him, she was struck by a strange sense of recognition. His eyes were deep and soulful, identical to those of her first and only true love. Memories she thought she had buried long ago began to surface, overwhelming her with a sense of nostalgia and longing. As the boy took the ball from her hands, his touch felt familiar, reminiscent of the same gentle caress. The boy smiled at her—a smile that was a perfect reflection of one she never wanted to forget—and then ran back to his play area, leaving Ruah engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions. Her mind drifted back to the days when she and her beloved one had shared a love that was intense and passionate but ultimately ended in heartbreak. Ruah's thoughts were consumed by the memories of her past. Their relationship had been a whirlwind of emotions, a beautiful storm that left an indelible mark on her heart. They had shared dreams, whispered secrets under starlit skies, and made promises of forever. But life had other plans, and their love story had ended, leaving Ruah with nothing but cherished memories and a heart full of unresolved feelings. Determined to shake off the overwhelming emotions that had been stirred, Ruah returned to the park the next day, hoping to see the boy again. She needed to confirm that the encounter was not just a figment of her imagination. As the days passed, she found herself returning to the park repeatedly, drawn by an inexplicable pull she couldn't ignore. Her heart yearned for another encounter, hoping for a glimpse of the boy whose eyes mirrored the love she had once known. The park, once just a place of greenery, has now become a sanctuary of memories and longing. It was where she could escape her daily routine and immerse herself in the bittersweet reminiscences of the past. 

As she sat on the bench, watching the world go by, her mind drifted back to the moments she had shared with him, and she couldn't help but wonder what might have been if things had turned out differently. One fine evening, as the sky turned shades of pink and orange, Ruah noticed a couple in the distance. They were walking hand in hand, their laughter echoing through the park. They seemed to embody everything she had ever wanted in life—love, companionship, and a shared future. As she watched them, she felt a mix of envy and nostalgia, her heart aching for what she had lost. Lost in her thoughts, Ruah felt a gentle tug on her skirt. She turned around and saw the same boy with those familiar eyes standing before her. He looked up at her with an innocent smile, and at that moment, tears welled up in her eyes as she recognized the same eyes she had fallen in love with years ago. "Hello, I am Zayn," the boy said, his voice soft and sweet. Ruah bent down to his level, her heart full of emotions she couldn't quite articulate as she suddenly remembered the name she had once suggested to the purest reflection of her deepest aspiration—the name they had dreamed of for their child. At that moment, just then, she heard a voice behind her, warm and soft, say, "Ruah." It was a voice she had fallen in love with—the voice that had whispered sweet nothings and made promises of forever. She turned around, her heart pounding in her chest, and there he was—Jabbar, her heart's desire—standing before her. His handsome face was just as she remembered, with the same pretty eyes and a green linen shirt that brought back a flood of memories. The boy ran to him and hugged him tightly, calling him "Daddy." Uncontrollably, tears streamed down Ruah's face as she stood frozen in time, unable to comprehend the moment. Jabbar stepped closer, his expression gentle and filled with the same warmth she had once known. He looked at her, his eyes searching hers, and softly asked, "Remember me?" Ruah, choking on her emotions, managed to say, "How could I ever forget you, Jabbar?"

They stood in silence for a moment, taking in each other's presence. Finally, Jabbar broke the silence, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and tenderness. "It's been so long, Ruah.

His words were a dagger to her heart, bringing back a flood of memories—their laughter, dreams, and plans for the future. It was as if time had collapsed and all the years of separation vanished, leaving only the two of them standing there. The memories of their first meeting played vividly in Ruah's mind. It had been a rainy afternoon in a quaint café, a day etched into her heart forever. Jabbar had accidentally bumped into her, spilling her coffee, and had apologized profusely. They had ended up talking for hours, discovering a shared love for literature and music. She recalled how he used to look at her, his eyes full of admiration and love, and how their connection had felt immediate and profound. Their first kiss, under the stars at the beach, had felt like a moment out of a fairy tale. They had spent countless nights talking about their dreams, wrapped in each other's arms, believing that nothing could ever tear them apart. Yet, life had taken them on separate paths, and those dreams had been left unfulfilled, buried beneath the weight of time. Just then, a baby girl came toddling over, trying to pick something up from the ground. Jabbar gently said to the baby girl, "No, Ruah! It's dirty!" At that moment, it hit her with a force that took her breath away. Jabbar was married to a beautiful family, and he had named his daughter after her. The bittersweet realization settled in her heart, tearing it apart and yet filling it with a strange sense of closure. Their love had ended, but it had left an indelible mark on both of them. As Ruah watched the little girl toddle away, her heart ached with the bittersweet recognition that Jabbar had moved on, found happiness, and built a life filled with love and joy. The realization was a knife twisting in her heart, bringing a mix of emotions—pain, regret, and a deep, lingering love that she couldn't deny. She recalled the breakup on a cold winter night when they had fought about their future. Jabbar had wanted to move to another city for career growth, while Ruah wanted to stay close to her family. Harsh words were exchanged, and in a moment of anger, they had ended their relationship. 

The pain of that night and the loneliness that followed had been unbearable, a wound that had never quite healed. Seeing Jabbar now, happy and fulfilled, made Ruah realize how much she still loved him. Yet she also understood that their paths had diverged for a reason and that the life he had built was one he cherished deeply. She felt a strange sense of peace, knowing that their love had been real and that it had shaped both of them in ways they could never have imagined. As Ruah walked away from the park that evening, the tears wouldn't stop. Her heart was heavy with the weight of memories and the knowledge that some love, no matter how fleeting, leaves a lasting impact. Jabbar would always be a part of her, a cherished memory that she would carry with her. "Remember me," he had said, and she knew she always would. Ruah paused for a moment, looking back at the park one last time. The golden light of the setting sun bathed everything in a warm glow, and she felt a gentle breeze against her skin. It was as if the park itself was saying goodbye, offering her a sense of closure she had long sought. With a bittersweet smile, she whispered, "Goodbye, Jabbar," and said to herself, "I would never fall in love again until I found you." She continued walking with the same love he had for her, her heart full of love, gratitude, and a quiet acceptance of the past.

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