Eternal Echo Of Love

14. The Journey to Kandy

Determined to find Shan, Muthuu convinced Minanga to accompany her on the trip to Kandy. The drive was long and fraught with anxiety, each mile feeling like a lifetime. Muthuu's mind was a whirlwind of questions and fears. What would she say when she saw him? Would he even want to see her?

As they finally arrived at the cabin, the sun was setting, casting a warm golden light over the hills. The cabin was small and simple, nestled among the trees with a breathtaking view of the valley below. It was peaceful and secluded-exactly the kind of place where someone could escape and be alone with their thoughts.

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After looking inside the cabin they went to neighbours houses to ask about the boy lived there. They didn't knew much about him . He was just a silent boy .only thing they knew was he went to the store downhill. Then come back at night.so she waited until the night came . Then they went to cabin again with a hope . She felt something different in her heart this time . There was a light inside the cabin . And a shadow of someone in there .Muthuu's heart pounded as she approached the door

Her hand hovered over the knocker, and she hesitated, her breath catching in her throat. What if it wasn't Shan there? Or worse, what if it was him and he didn't want to see her?

Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly. The sound seemed to reverberate through the quiet evening, and for a long moment, there was only silence. Just as she was about to knock again, the door creaked open.

Shan stood in the doorway, looking worn and tired, but very much alive. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Muthuu standing there, her face a mix of relief and fear.

"Muthuu..."

Shan's voice was barely a whisper, filled with disbelief.

Muthuu's eyes filled with tears as she stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Shan, why did you leave? Why didn't you tell me?"

Shan looked away, his face etched with pain. "I didn't know how to face you, Muthuu. I was so lost, so scared... I thought if I just disappeared, it would be easier for everyone."

Muthuu took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "Easier for who, Shan? Do you have any idea what it was like, waking up every day and not knowing where you were? Not knowing if you were okay, or if... if you even wanted to come back?"

Her voice broke on the last word, and she quickly wiped her eyes.

Shan winced, feeling the weight of his choices pressing down on him. "I thought... I thought I was sparing you the pain. I was drowning, Muthuu. I couldn't breathe under all the pressure, the expectations. I didn't want you to see me like that, to see how weak I'd become."

"Shan, you're not weak," Muthuu said firmly, despite the tears streaming down her face. "You're human. You were hurting, and instead of letting me help, you pushed me away. Do you know how much that hurt?"

Shan's hands trembled as he ran them through his hair, frustration and guilt battling within him. "I didn't know what else to do. Every time I looked at you, I saw how much I was failing. I didn't want to drag you down with me."

Muthuu stepped closer, her voice soft but steady. "You could never drag me down, Shan. All I wanted was to be there for you, to share the burden. But instead, you left me to carry it alone."

Shan's eyes filled with tears as he finally met her gaze. "I'm sorry, Muthuu. I was so lost in my own pain that I didn't realize I was hurting you even more."

Muthuu's heart ached as she saw the tears in his eyes. "You don't have to face this alone, Shan. You never did. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. We'll get through this together, but only if you let me in."

Shan's shoulders slumped as he let out a shaky breath, the weight of his guilt and fear finally breaking under Muthuu's unwavering love. "I've missed you so much, Muthuu. I thought I was doing the right thing, but all I did was hurt the person I love the most."

Muthuu closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him, holding him as tightly as she could. "You don't have to do this alone, Shan. We'll figure it out together."

Shan stood still for a moment before he finally hugged her back, burying his face in her hair. "I've missed you so much, Muthuu. I thought I was doing the right thing, but all I did was hurt the person I love the most."

Muthuu pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked cheeks meeting his gaze. "Promise me you'll never run away again, Shan. No matter how hard things get, we face them together."

Shan nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and determination. "I promise, Muthuu. I won't leave you again."

With a newfound sense of unity, they sat together in the cabin, their hearts finding solace in each other's presence. The road ahead would be challenging, but they knew that as long as they faced it together, they could overcome anything. The golden light of the sunset cast a hopeful glow over their intertwined lives, symbolizing the strength they would find in each other and the future they would build, side by side.