Shadows of Elegance [MeenBabe]

Chapter 16: Far from the Heart

"She deserves to live her life, to seize every opportunity that comes her way. And with the distance between us, our communication... it won't be easy," she confessed, her words heavy with a sense of resignation.

Aoom's gaze drifted upward, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she stared into the vast expanse of the sky. "I want her to be happy, Ice," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "And I know that she can't be happy if she's waiting for me, wondering if I'll ever come back."

Ice gently invited Aoom to rest her head on her shoulder, offering a silent gesture of comfort and support. Aoom leaned into the embrace, finding solace in the warmth of her friend's presence as she continued to pour out her heart.

"We're still letting things flow," Aoom murmured, her voice a tender whisper tinged with determination. "I made her a promise that I'll communicate with her every day, and I intend to keep it. Our connection hasn't faded; it's as strong as ever." And as the plane soared higher into the boundless expanse of the sky, carrying Aoom further away from Meena, she took comfort in this knowledge.

Back on land, Meena sat slouched in the passenger seat beside Charlotte, her mind swimming with thoughts of Aoom. "You know, Char, they say distance makes the heart grow fonder," Meena joked half-heartedly, trying to inject some humor into the somber moment.

Charlotte shot her a skeptical glance, her lips quirking into a faint smile. "Yeah, and they also say pigs might fly," she quipped back, her tone tinged with amusement.

Meena rolled her eyes playfully. "Hey, you never know! Stranger things have happened," she countered, though her attempt at humor fell flat even to her own ears.

Charlotte sighed, her expression softening with empathy. "I know you're trying to lighten the mood, Meena, but this sucks, plain and simple," she confessed.

Meena nodded in agreement, feeling a lump form in her throat at Charlotte's words. "Yeah, it does," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Charlotte glanced at her, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle with understanding.

Meena forced a smile, but it felt brittle, like glass on the verge of shattering. "I'm trying to be," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. The truth was, she missed Aoom more than words could express, the thought of six months without her felt like an eternity.

"I just wish she didn't have to go," Meena admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "I know it's for her career, but it doesn't make it any easier."

"And you know, Char," Meena began, her words trailing off into a heavy sigh as she struggled to articulate the storm raging within her. "This is exactly why I never wanted us to become anything more than friends. Because now... now I'm supposed to be happy for her, to give her encouragement. And I am, I truly am," she reiterated, her voice laced with sincerity.

"But underneath it all, there's this... this selfish part of me," Meena admitted, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "I didn't tell her any of this. Not because I didn't want to be honest with her, but because I couldn't bear the thought of holding her back. Of burdening her with my fears and insecurities."

A heavy silence settled between them, thick with the weight of unspoken emotions. Meena's chest felt tight, her heart constricted by the conflicting urges tearing her apart from within. "But the truth is," Meena continued, her voice raw with emotion, "of all the things that bring me joy in this world, she's one of the few constants.

"But everything is going to be okay," Meena said, her voice barely above a whisper as she made an effort to convince herself as much as Charlotte. The words seemed hollow, like a poor attempt to calm the tempest screaming inside her.