The Man Who Left | ✔

07 | argentum.

A R G E N T U M

[latin   → silver]

The sea was jewel-blue—the waves crashed on each other as they met boulders. Squabbling seagulls flew by, only to harass the beachgoers. The sand was golden-yellow, dry and rough. Maya leaned on her elbows, her feet dangling behind her as she lay flat on her stomach.

The breezy summer wind drifted by, soothing her. Emily sat beside her, legs crossed and enjoying the day at the beach. "It's beautiful isn't it?"

Nodding in reply, Maya smiled at the sight of the horizon—it was a line of nickel-silver, shiny and bright. She gazed at the sea, her thoughts still clinging over him. Months have passed since Nathan's death and the thought of her living without him was still a shock.

Sometimes she wondered—wondered how she'd lived all these months without his scent, his breath and his soul in presence. It all felt like a dream and she hoped it was, but it was all real. She clutched the necklace in her hands, gripping tightly as if her life depended on it.

Maya stood, facing the blue ocean. The surface glimmered before her as though they were stars. She closed her eyes and breathed in the salty air and then she saw herself with him.

Nathan pulled Maya into an embrace, ever so tightly. She buried her face into his arms, feeling the heat radiating from his body. She felt his lips on the bare skin of her shoulders, his fingers lingering between the strands of her blonde hair. Maya looked into his eyes and smiled.

The warm sea water crashed off their feet, effervescence forming around them. Nathan kneeled before her, one hand on hers and the other in his pocket. Her heart raced, a feeling of euphoria rushing through her. She felt nervous though, knowing that he was going to propose to her—but she stood still.

He took his hand out, revealing a shiny silver ring with a small piece of blue diamond perched on top of it. It glimmered in the sunlight, reflecting off tiny sparkles which almost blinded her. It was beautiful. "Maya," he breathed out.

Maya closed her eyes, feeling the joy washing over her.

"When I'm with you, I lose myself and without you, I'm nothing. Having you by my side is what completes me," Nathan spat out, his voice shaky.

Tears of joy started to rain down her cheeks, feeling the bliss of him saying those words to her. It meant so much to Maya—and he meant so much to her too. Breathing out slowly, she wiped the coming tears.

"You taught me the real meaning of love, and I want to keep loving you for the rest of my life," Nathan looked at her, his eyes shiny with tears. "Will you marry me?"

Her heart beats faster, the tears rolling down in an unstoppable motion. Without hesitation, she said ever so softly, "Yes," 

Nodding, Nathan pulled her into a hug and she cried tears of joy in his shoulders, not believing of what just happened.

A drop of tear settled on her cheek as she opened her eyes. It hurts so much. When the person she loved isn't here anymore, it felt as though she was dead, inside out. She missed him. Even knowing that it was impossible, she still hoped that he would come back—but that was never going to happen.

And she knew it wouldn't.