With the First Drop of Rain | Aslaz

Abyss

The young man stood on the edge of the cliff, curiosity gnawing at him. What would happen if he jumped? Would it hurt? Would he feel each bone crack upon impact? Or would his heart cease before he even met the ocean's foam?

Could any pain compare to the agony he felt standing there, tears dried on his face, hands stained with blood?

Perhaps the cold waters could wash away the dried blood stains from his hands, but could they cleanse his head of the haunting memories that tormented his half-crazed mind?

He still felt the cold of her weakening hands on his cheeks, her slowing breaths echoing in his ears.

The tremble of her cracked lips as she uttered her final farewell words still lingered in his mind.

His body still felt the weight of her lifeless body, cradling her as if to remind that he was still there, with her side, praying heaven and hell to not take her... or at least to take him with her

But they hadn't heard either plea.

He couldn't grant the first, so perhaps he could fulfill the latter?

***

2024, June

The man in black stood in the shadow of the tree, observing the scene from a distance. The cries of the blonde woman reached him even there.

His black glasses concealed the evidence of tears and sleepless nights. Perhaps it was the alcohol in his system or the headache that made him feel dizzy. It was as if his head was in the clouds, and even his own body felt unfamiliar to him.

His trance was broken by the gentle touch of a hand on his shoulder. "Abi," his sister's face appeared before him, bearing a resemblance to his own with red eyes, tear-streaked cheeks, and a weary expression. The only difference was the pity in her eyes as she looked at her brother, as if apologizing for something neither of them understood.

If anyone should be sorry, it was him. But inside, he was consumed by anger — anger at himself for being a coward and anger at the heavens for not giving him a chance to make things right.

"Are you okay, abi?" she asked.

Why do humans choose to ask seemingly foolish questions in such situations?

He evaluated the situation in his mind.

He was attending the funeral of the only woman he ever loved, whom he didn't even have chance to confess his feelings.

But it was a lie. He had countless opportunities to tell her how he felt, but fear always held him back at the last moment, leaving him waiting for a better moment that never came.

On the day he mustered the courage to confess, he found her with other man.

Memories of that day were fresh as it was yesterday.

Flashback

Amidst the crowd congratulating him for his award, Alaz's eyes incessantly searched for a certain curly-haired woman, but she was nowhere to be found.

He finally slipped away from the crowd eager to congratulate the award-winning young business manager, but his eyes still couldn't find who he was looking for.

Suddenly, the world around him seemed to freeze. The clamor of the event dulled, the lights dimmed, and his focus narrowed to a single figure: a black-haired woman in a red dress, standing on a balcony. His feet moved instinctively towards her. He was just a few steps away when the balcony door opened, and she stepped outside.