Three's Company

60. Where It Truly Lies, Pt 1

Leaning up on the tip of toes, she brought her arm around his neck before pulling him in for a simple kiss.

Their lips met, a bittersweet mixture of love and farewell. It was a kiss that held the weight of their shared memories, the laughter and tears they had experienced together. In that moment, they both knew it was their last kiss.

As they pulled away, Mona looked into Heath's eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation or regret. But all she found was acceptance and understanding. They had reached the end of their journey, and it was time to let go.

"I'll always cherish what we had," Heath whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and gratitude. "You taught me what it means to truly love someone, even if it couldn't last forever."

Tears welled up in Mona's eyes, but she blinked them away, determined to stay strong. "And you taught me how to let go, even when it hurts the most," she replied, her voice trembling slightly.

They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, holding onto the final moments of their love. The water continued to cascade down, washing away the remnants of their shared intimacy. It was a symbolic cleansing, a way to start anew.

With a heavy heart, Mona stepped back, breaking their embrace. She knew it was time to move on, to find herself again. And as she turned to leave, she couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the journey they had taken together.

Back to square one, she thought, but this time with a newfound strength and wisdom.

The heartache had transformed her, molding her into a stronger version of herself. And as she walked away, she knew that she would always carry a piece of Heath with her, a reminder of the love they had shared.

But for now, it was time to embrace the unknown, to discover what lay ahead. And as she took her first step forward, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope, knowing that even though it was the end of their love story, it was the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

She smiled sadly, letting his caress over her face as much as he wanted to.

"Why did that feel like a goodbye kiss?" She murmured loosely into the air.

Heath returned her smile, placing another kiss on her lips. This one was softer, more gentle. It was like he was trying to savour the taste of her on his tongue, wanting to keep the memory of her alive with his soft grazes.

As they broke apart, Heath looked into Mona's eyes, his gaze filled with a mixture of longing and resignation. "Because it is a goodbye kiss," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mona's heart sank, the reality of their situation hitting her with full force. She had hoped that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make it work, to overcome the obstacles that stood in their path. But deep down, she knew that their love was not meant to be.

Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "I don't want to say goodbye," she choked out, her voice filled with a raw vulnerability.

Heath reached out, gently wiping away a tear that escaped down her cheek. "I don't either," he confessed, his voice filled with a mixture of pain and regret. "But sometimes, love isn't enough. Sometimes, we have to let go, even if it's the hardest thing we'll ever do."

Mona nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of their farewell. She knew that he was right, that holding on would only prolong their pain. But it didn't make it any easier.

They stood there, their bodies close but their hearts drifting apart. The water continued to cascade down, a constant reminder of the passing time. And as they shared one final embrace, they both knew that it was time to say goodbye.

"I'll always remember the moments we shared," Mona whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and gratitude. "You'll always have a special place in my heart."

Heath held her tighter, his grip filled with a desperate longing. "And you'll always have a piece of my soul," he replied, his voice filled with a deep sincerity.

With one last lingering look, they slowly let go, their fingers slipping away from each other's grasp. It was a painful separation, but they both knew it was necessary for their own healing.

Her heart ached with the weight of their goodbye. But she also felt a glimmer of hope, knowing that sometimes, saying goodbye is the first step towards finding true happiness.

And as she took her first steps into the unknown, she carried with her the memories of their love, the lessons they had learned, and the strength to embrace whatever lay ahead. It was the end of their love story, but it was also the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

"Friends?" He tried.

She let out a laugh, scrunching her nose up as the words settled in. "Friends? I don't know how I feel about that."

"You don't want to be friends with me?" He retorted.

"Not really." She rolled her eyes, dropping her hands to her sides and taking a step away. "You don't talk to me how you would talk to your other friends."

"I guess that's true."

"Are you regretting your decision of getting my name tatted on your neck now?" She teased, but he simply grinned. "You know as sweet as it is, that was really stupid of you."

Instead of replying, he smirked and switched the shower off.

"You'll call me first when you want to make a baby, yeah?"

She shook her head, pursing her lips together to hold in her amusement.

"Goodbye, Heath." She stressed with emphasis, and his familiar husky chuckle filled in the air.

His kiss was subtle and lingering on her cheek before he finally stepped out of the shower. This was it. This was the start of their new beginning.

"Goodbye, hayati."