Carving Crayons

One and Only

She watched him forget. She watched him drift away.

Her heart ached, yet she knew it was for the best: it was for his best.

She learned to let him go. She learned to blend in as a mere passerby.

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"I'm not lying! She's there."

"Enough, Rishi!"

"But Anya-"

"There's no 'Anya'. You are never going to say that name ever again- got it?"

"Ma', she's a friend and- Ma', you're crying?! Don't cry, Ma'."

"Dear... Promise me that... You will never talk to her again."

"But-"

"Please, Rishi."

"I- I promise."

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He made mistakes. He learned.

He laughed. He cried. His joy lifted her. His tears crushed her.

Time went about its way, dragging everyone with it. He grew.

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"Don't touch me!"

"Trisha, I-"

"Stay away! I beg you- Please."

"Calm down."

"Rishi, just- Get out! I don't want to see you ever again."

"Babe, breathe. Let's talk."

"She'll kill me!"

"Who?!"

"She- No! I hate you, Rishi! We're over!"

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She was selfish. She was jealous.

No.

No.

She must let him go.

She can't let her shade eat his light. She can't- mustn't- give into temptation.

She needed to wait for him.

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"It was an accident. No one could have predicted."

"I know. I- I couldn't sleep."

"Director called. The project has been passed to us. We are expected to get back to work tomorrow."

"He was our rival- our friend."

"Earth won't stop spinning for one life, Rishi. It's been weeks."

"I get it."

"Look at the bright side- you got your dream project, at least."

"I don't care anymore. I know I won't be happy."

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Happiness.

She longed for it.

Maybe that was why she clinged to it- clinged to him.

She had promised to give him the world- no matter the cost.

She wondered where it went wrong.

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"Anya, I know you're here. Come out."

Was he ready?

The pale woman appeared. "I knew you'll come back to me one day, Rudra. I knew-"

"Rishi- It's Rishi."

"You were Rudra. You'll always be my Rudra. In your past life-"

"No, Anya. Listen, I was reborn as a human for a reason and-"

"You remember."

"I never forgot."

"Let's go back to our world, Rudra."

"Anya, I can't. I don't want to."

He didn't want to return. He didn't want to return to her.

"Why?"

"I can't love you, Anya. We are not meant to be. I'm not meant to be with- with you in your world."

She begged him. She promised to make it work- to make them work. Yet, he left, mumbling a nonchalant 'farewell'.

No.

No.

If he couldn't love her, he could love nobody else.

Her hands stained red.

Lub- Dubb- lub

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He walked away, wondering why his chest felt empty- absent. He blamed it obliviously upon relief.

The day he realized that he could no longer hear the thump of his heart, it was far too late.

He felt nothing- no love; no hope. He was too far gone to care.

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500 words.

Prompt from 'Graffiti- Creative writing' by @Rebel_Town
#2 - Visual Inspiration (Prompt 3)

Reposted.

Thanks for reading.