𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 | (𝐆)𝐈-𝐃𝐋𝐄

𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨 𝐀 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬

The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the city skyline. The park was quiet, save for the distant laughter of children and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Shuhua sat on a bench, her gaze fixed on the horizon, lost in her thoughts.

She remembered the promise she had made to Soojin, the words she had uttered with such conviction, "Yes, I said that I'd always save a part of my heart for you." She had meant it then, every word, every syllable. She had loved her with a passion that consumed her, a love that was as deep as the ocean and as vast as the sky.

But time, as it often does, had changed things. The love that once consumed Shuhua had slowly started to fade, like a candle flickering in the wind. Her heart no longer yearned for her every second, it no longer missed her every time she was reminded of her. The sight of Soojin no longer made her heart flutter, no longer made her feel like she was on top of the world.

She remembered the times they had spent together, the laughter, the tears, the shared dreams and hopes. She remembered the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her passions, the way her laughter filled the room, the way she made her feel like she was the only person in the world. But those memories, once vivid and full of life, had started to fade. They were now just distant echoes of a past that seemed like a lifetime ago. Her heart, once full of love for her, was now just an empty shell.

Shuhua looked down at her hands, the hands that once held hers, the hands that once promised to always be there for her. But those promises were now just empty words, words that had lost their meaning.

"I loved you then," she whispered to the wind, her voice barely audible. "But the part of my heart that was reserved for you no longer beats." As she spoke those words, a gentle breeze swept through the park, carrying her words away. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to find solace in the fading memories.

Just then, a familiar voice broke the silence. "Shu," Soojin said softly, her voice filled with concern. She had been searching for her, sensing that something was amiss.

Shuhua turned to face her, eyes filled with a mix of sadness and resignation. "Jin, I... I need to be honest with you," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "The love I once had for you, it's not the same anymore. It's not fair to... either of us to hold onto something that's no longer there."

Soojin's eyes welled up with tears, but she nodded, understanding Shuhua's words. "I've felt it too, Shu," she admitted, her voice choked with emotion. "Love can change, and sometimes it's beyond our control."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their words hanging in the air. It was a painful realization, but it was also a moment of acceptance.

"I don't regret our time together," Soojin said, her voice filled with sincerity. "We had something beautiful, and I will always cherish the memories we made. But it's time for both of us to move forward, to find our own happiness." 

Shuhua nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I'm... I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you," she whispered, her voice filled with regret.

Soojin reached out and gently wiped away her tears. "We both made mistakes. But we can't dwell on them. We have to learn from them and grow."

They sat there, holding each other's hands, finding comfort in the shared understanding. It was a bittersweet moment, a farewell to a love that had once burned bright but had now dimmed.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the park, they made a silent promise to themselves and to each other. They would always cherish the love they had shared, but they would also embrace the future, ready to write new chapters in their lives.

And as they walked away from the park, hand in hand, they knew that even though their love story had come to an end, they would always be grateful for the journey they had taken together.