They were happy.
Truly happy.
Not thinking about anything.
Not about the past.
Not about the future.
No sadness.
No questions.
Just living in the present.
As if this moment—
was all that existed.
As if nothing else mattered.
They laughed.
Talked.
Walked together.
Like time had slowed down—
just for them.
But somewhere—
deep inside—
both of them knew.
This moment—
was temporary.
After a while—
Aira grew quiet.
She looked at Aarohi.
Aira, softly,
"What will happen when I leave, Aarohi?"
A small pause.
"Will we still talk… like this?"
Aarohi's smile faded a little.
Not completely—
but enough to feel it.
Aarohi,
"Yes… we'll talk."
A pause.
"But I don't know… if I can see you leave like this."
Aira looked down.
Aira,
"I don't want to leave either."
"I just want to stay like this…"
"With you."
"Spending time… like this."
"Everything that includes you."
A small breath.
"Leaving you this time... won't feel the same."
Aarohi looked at her—
her eyes softer now.
Aarohi,
"I know…"
"It's going to be hard."
"For both of us."
"But we have to."
A small pause.
"We'll talk."
Aira nodded slowly.
Aira,
"Yes… Aarohi."
There was silence again.
But this time—
it carried weight.
Aarohi took a small breath—
and tried to bring back the lightness.
Aarohi, softly,
"Let's just enjoy this moment, okay?"
"Don't think too much."
Aira looked at her—
then nodded.
Aira,
"Okay."
Aarohi smiled a little.
Aarohi,
"How about this…"
"In these days… we just try to know each other more?"
Aira smiled faintly.
Aira,
"Yes… that's a good idea."
"We'll know each other better… in these last days."
That word—
last—
lingered in the air.
But neither of them pointed it out.
Aarohi looked at her again.
Aarohi, softly,
"Airu… I missed you."
Aira's eyes softened.
Aira,
"Aarohi… I missed you too."
Aarohi hesitated—
then asked quietly,
Aarohi,
"We'll still talk like this… right?"
Aira didn't hesitate this time.
Aira,
"Yes."
"No matter what happens…"
"We'll talk."
Aarohi nodded.
Aarohi,
"Yes… Airu."
Aira smiled softly.
Aira,
"Hmm."
After that conversation—
they didn't say much.
Not because there was nothing to say—
but because there was too much.
They went for a walk.
Slowly.
No destination.
Just together.
At one point—
Aarohi stopped.
Aira looked at her.
Aarohi didn't say anything.
She just stepped closer—
and hugged her.
Not tightly.
Not suddenly.
Just gently.
Like she didn't want to break the moment.
Aira froze for a second.
Then slowly—
she hugged her back.
And in that hug—
everything was there.
The happiness.
The fear.
The love.
And the quiet pain of knowing—
this wouldn't last forever.
They didn't talk about leaving again.
But after that—
they both held onto each moment—
a little more carefully.
A little more deeply.
As if they were trying—
to save these memories—
for later.