He still remembered the last time he held her in one of his bear hugs. He could still feel the warm kiss she gave on his forehead. He had closed his eyes and savoured the moment even as he tucked a wayward strand of her hair behind her ear.
If only he had known at the time, that fate was going to cheat them out of a future together. If only he had known that it was going to be their last goodbye, their last hug, their last kiss. Fate and Death had conspired and stolen her away from him forever. The fact he couldn’t remember the last words that they had exchanged ate away at his soul.
Every day, her room and the closet full of her clothes smelled a little less like her and a little more like him. The walls now stripped bare of the photos that they were once covered in, seemed to close in on him at times. He still couldn’t bring himself to take off his wedding ring. Grief, heartbreak, hollowness, and misery squeezed his heart until he became numb to pain. He cried till he ran out of tears. Even breathing seemed like a chore. Days and nights blended in alternate cycles of pain and numbness.
When it became too much, he dragged himself off, albeit reluctantly to a grief counselling group. Though it was a struggle at first, he gradually learned to cope with his grief. With time and a lot of effort, he realised that he could remember her without the grief overclouding their shared memories.
This story was written in response to Mindlovemisery’s Photo Challenge #333.
The challenge is to use the given photo prompt as inspiration for a poem or short story.
For the visually challenged readers, the photo shows a young man and a woman in an embrace. The man’s face is visibly yet his eyes are closed. The woman’s face is away from the camera.
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© 2020 Shweta Suresh. All rights reserved.
Loved the story, Shweta. 👌👌
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Thank you so much 😊❤
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🥺🥺loved
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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Story so well written, Shweta! Suggesting councelling, to my friend who lost her hubby recently
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Thank you so much, HS! Yes, it can help to cope with pain. I hope that she heeds your advice.
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Last line ❤️
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Thank you so much, Achu chechi! From my experience, I believe that to be true…
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From mine too 🙂
Munpanel achane kurich parayan thanne padayrnu. Ippo dha aa kadhakal ezhuthi thudangi. It feels good to visit back those memories now.
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That’s the thing about grief. I am glad to know that it feels good to visit back those memories now.
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Yeah. Memories are the free tickets to relive those moments 🙂
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Yes. They are. They grow even more precious with time.
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True 🙂
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Are you still in Sweden?
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Atheda. But moved to a different state. Trying to go back to India. But notmal flights haven’t started yet
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Oh. Iniyippo aa air bubble thing establish cheyyano? Restrictions pathukke lift aakunondallo. Hopefully it’ll start soon and you’ll be able to come home. What about Scorpy chettan?
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Athe. Waiting for that. Scorpy chettan will stay back. I badly need a break. Atha njan pokunnath. Ivdirunnu maduthu 😕
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Oh. Yes, I can imagine how you must be feeling. I hope it happens soon. Blogging kurachenkilum help cheyunnille?
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It felt good to post here after a long time. Otherwise I am here only to read a few of yours posts. I guess, you know who 😊
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Oh yes, I know because you always make it a post to leave such lovely comments 🤗
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😊😊
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💙💙
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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Pleasure 🤗💙
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Such a great sad story and good job on the photo Shweta!!! ❤️ Cindy
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Thank you so much, Cindy! 🙂
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You are so welcome! 🤗Cindy
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❤️🤗
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This is a very touching story Shweta.
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Thank you so much, my dear friend! 🙂
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Always my pleasure
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🙂
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Very well written !
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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An amazingly penned emotional story. A unique take on the photo prompt. Loved the expressive writing 😊
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I’m glad you liked it. Thank you so much ❤️
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so beautifully composed, you describe grief very well!
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Thank you so much, Kate ❤️🤗
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my pleasure, keep up the good work!
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I will ☺️
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I was searching for word to describe your writing.
And I came across one- it says Raconteur, which means a gifted storyteller.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this story and I always wonder how you write it so beautifully! This is such a touching story. Infact I even wrote something inspired by this story of yours in my journal.
You write really well, I honestly say this.
Your stories hold me captive till end.
Too good Shweta! Just too good!
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Oh wow, Rashmi. I am speechless. That’s such high praise, my dear. I am overwhelmed. I am so happy that it inspired you to write something too. I am so glad that my stories have such an effect. Thank you so much, my dear. Thanks a lot for making my day!
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I only want to see my people smiling. Nothing else.
You deserve all praise.
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Aww, Rashmi. You never fail to bring a smile to my face. Thank you so much 💖🤗
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Beautiful, touching and encouraging Shweta🧡
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Thank you so much, Jude 🙂
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My pleasure 🌼
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🤗😃
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Very evocative and emotional piece!
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Thank you so much, Dahlia 🙂
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So heart-breakingly beautiful 💔💚
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Thank you so much 🙂
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You’re welcome!
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❤️🤗
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Loved it ❤️🥺
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Sad and heart-breaking story, Shweta but it was so nice to read.
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Thank you so much, Kamalji 🙂
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Welcome always dear Shweta 😊😊
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🙂
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😊😊😊😊
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Lovely and touching story! Overflowing with emotions 😇
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Thank you so much. I am so happy to hear that 🙂
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Beautifully written, you have brought out the emotion very well.
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I am so happy to hear that. Thank you so much for reading 🙂
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That’s a cool idea.
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Touching story. The writing is amazing connecting the readers heart.
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See this interesting blog post https://isharahunar.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/my-girl-crush/
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Well written and sad, but enjoyable. 🙂
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