A veil of hearts

•nothing ends•

36
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The bustling Almira International Airport hummed with activity, a stark contrast to the hollow feeling in Aina's chest. She clutched her ticket to Turkey tightly as she made her way to the check-in counter, her suitcase rolling behind her like a reluctant companion.

"It ends here," she whispered to herself, the words barely audible above the airport's din.

As she waited in line, her mind drifted back to the microbiology exam she had just completed. Joshua's subject. Her heart clenched at the thought of him, at the memory of his passionate lectures in the familiar halls of Almira University. She could almost hear his voice explaining complex concepts, see his eyes light up with enthusiasm in that classroom she'd never enter again.

"Next, please," the airline employee called, snapping Aina out of her reverie.

She stepped forward, handing over her passport and ticket with trembling hands. As the employee processed her check-in, Aina's gaze wandered to the large windows overlooking the runway. Beyond, she could see the Almira skyline, the city that had become her home, now fading into memory.

"Your boarding pass, miss," the employee said, sliding the document across the counter.

Aina nodded her thanks, gathering her belongings. As she turned away from the counter, she caught sight of a man in a suit that looked similar to what Joshua often wore. For a heart-stopping moment, she thought he might have come to stop her from leaving.

But it was just another traveler, leaving Aina with a mixture of relief and disappointment.

She made her way through security, each step taking her further from the life she'd known in Almira. At the gate, she sank into a chair, her carry-on bag clutched to her chest like a shield.

"Final call for passengers on flight TK1764 to Istanbul," the announcement echoed through the terminal, first in Arabic, then in English.

Aina stood, her legs unsteady. This was it. The point of no return. As she joined the queue to board, she allowed herself one last thought of Joshua, of the beach where she'd left him, of the university where they'd shared so many moments.

"Goodbye, Almira," she murmured, blinking back tears. "Goodbye, Joshua. Thank you for everything."

With a deep breath, she handed her boarding pass to the gate agent. As she walked down the jet bridge, Aina felt as if she were leaving more than just Almira behind. She was leaving a piece of her heart, buried in the memories of stolen glances, gentle touches, and unspoken love.

The plane's door closed behind her with a final, definitive thud. As Aina settled into her seat, she closed her eyes, willing herself to focus on the uncertain future ahead rather than the love she was leaving behind in Almira.

"It ends here," she repeated to herself as the plane began to taxi. "And something new must begin."

///

Joshua's POV

I sat at my desk, a stack of graded exams before me. My eyes lingered on Aina's paper, her neat handwriting a painful reminder of what I'd lost. A week had passed since that night on the beach, but the ache in my chest felt as fresh as ever.

My fingers traced her name at the top of the page, a sigh escaping my lips. The silence of my office was suddenly shattered by the shrill ring of my phone. I glanced at the screen, my heart leaping into my throat as I saw Aina's name.

"Aina?" I answered, hope and anxiety warring in my voice.

"Hello, we are from Almira airport staff," a unfamiliar voice replied. "The woman here has lost consciousness and your number was in the emergency contact list."