An End and a New Beginning

And he did stay by her side and their daughter's side all these years as time went past the both of them.

It was a happy way to spend an entire life, loving the people around him and creating an unforgettable memory.

Before he knew it, the years went by so quickly in the blink of an eye, and their daughter had grown up and started to have her own family.

Their daughter fell in love with a man that belongs to this little town, and she stayed with him here; and they also had their own family. A happy family of her own.

As her father and the grandfather to her kids, he felt like knowing Julia was one of the most significant opportunities.

If not for her, he would not have decided to move into this small town and met so many great people over the years.

Many years later, on that summer evening, the two of them walked hand in hand up to the top of the mountain through the hiking trail.

Except now, they were no longer a young man and young woman but two older people who had lived for more than half a century.

Jon is still filled with vigor and energy, as though he is in his 20s. However, he watched Julia grow older each year.

She holds onto his hand tightly as she finds strength again to take a step closer up the mountaintop, "If not for you taking my hand, I wouldn't have been able to go so far."

She had a warm and gentle smile as she leaned herself by his side, holding tightly to his hand, before sitting down on the wooden bench.

He smiled as he sat right next to her, holding her hand. Through the years, they had grown so customer to each other's presence that being by her side, he would feel the warmth from her heart overflowing to him.

They always go on these hikes frequently as exercise, especially around this warm time of the year.

He breathes a sigh as he watches those distant green mountains, watching how the hills in the distance eventually fade into a speck of white.

"Did you hear, my love, our youngest grandson is having his second child in December," he told her, breathing a sigh, remembering just how crazy it was when it was just the two of them many years ago.

"I didn't know that," Julia smiled with her blue eyes watching him, "it is amazing, though."

Spending time with her all these years, he knows that she does not mean the previous context. Instead, she said how amazing it had been, together with him all these years.

The way her eyes still look at him with deep love, he knows that she implies the magic of the relationship and how destiny had brought them together.

"It surely is, my love," Jon said back to her with a knowing smile, "all these years."

He feels like this is the last moment with her because he could feel her presence fading with each minute that passes.

She puts her head on his shoulders and puts her hand on top of his hand, "Do you remember when we were just kids? I always knew I would spend the rest of my life with you. That you were the one since I first met you."

"I do remember," Jon said back with nostalgia in his eyes.

He remembers when they were still young, so many years before, as the little girl took his hand and introduced him to this brand new world.

He remembered how she was in his arms when he rescued her from the ship moments before everyone died.

He remembered seeing her holding their daughter in her arms as she was by the window side. That sweet smile on her face as the light from the window shines in a blurry way on her face as she tugs the child into sleep.

He also becomes nostalgic for the memories of both of them traveling west and playing on the beach chasing each other. They were so young back then.

"I'm sure you will never forget," she told him as she closed her eyes while saying, " because you have never once broken your promise to me."

"I did promise you I would never leave your side, didn't I," he told her sweetly and gave her forehead a gentle kiss.

"You did," she said and held onto his arms.

"I will always love you, Julia," he told her calmly, "and I will not leave your side. I will never let you feel alone."

She smiled warmly upon hearing those words and finally asked him, "Then will you spend just a few more minutes with me? Until the end?"

He stopped upon hearing what she said because he knew that this was the end, and he said to her many years ago, "As you wish."

"Thank you," she told him quietly with her eyes closed.

And he knows that this is not just for the promise right now, but that she is profoundly implying all the things he did for her in his life.

The mornings they were together, the birthdays they celebrated together, and all the other precious memories they had together. She was saying in gratitude and love for all those beautiful memories and that she loved him deeply.

"I will always love you, Julia," he told her warmly, "I will treasure all our memories together. Thank you."

He watches and feels the very last breath that she breathes as her presence slowly leaves his side.

His heart burns with a bitter pain as he knows that she is now gone from his side, and he smiles a bitter smile as he holds onto her hand.

Felt the warm tears falling from the corner of his eyes drop by drop until it touches the hand he holds onto her hand.

Before, he promised her that he would be the last one to leave, and he would not let her feel the pain of watching him go first.

"I love you, and if there is a date to our love, it would be a million years," he said.