Chapter 5: The Final Goodbye

The rain was falling again, just like it had on the night they first met. Zoya stood at the edge of the rooftop, her hands trembling as she clutched the letter in her hand. The city below was a blur of lights and shadows, but she barely noticed. All she could think about was Aarish—his dark eyes, his quiet strength, the way he had made her feel like she wasn't alone, even when the world was falling apart.

But now, he was gone.

Zoya didn't know how it had happened. One moment, they had been together, planning their next move, and the next, he had vanished without a word. She had searched everywhere, called every number she knew, but there was no trace of him. It was like he had never existed.

And then, the letter had arrived.

It was slipped under the door of the safe house, a single sheet of paper folded neatly in half. Zoya had known it was from him the moment she saw it. His handwriting was unmistakable—bold and precise, just like him.

She had read it a hundred times, but the words still didn't feel real.

" Zoya,

If you're reading this, it means I'm already gone. I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye in person, but this is the only way. There are things I've done, things I can't undo, and if I stayed, I would only put you in more danger. You deserve better than that. You deserve a life free from all of this.

I never meant to hurt you. Everything I did, I did to protect you. But I see now that I was wrong. I thought I could keep you safe, but all I did was drag you deeper into my mess. I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for everything.

I never meant to fall for you, Zoya. But you were like a light in the darkness, and I couldn't help but reach for you. Even now, as I write this, I can still see the way you looked at me that night on the rooftop, your eyes full of hope and fear. I wanted to be the person who could give you everything you deserved. But I'm not. And that's the hardest truth of alls.

Please, don't look for me. Don't try to find out what happened. Just live your life, Zoya. Be happy. That's all I ever wanted for you.

Goodbye.

Aarish

"

Zoya's hands shook as she folded the letter and tucked it into her pocket. She felt like she was drowning, the weight of his words pressing down on her chest until she could barely breathe. She wanted to scream, to cry, to do something—anything—to make the pain go away. But all she could do was stand there, staring out at the city, feeling more alone than she ever had in her life.

She didn't know how long she stood there, but eventually, the rain began to soak through her clothes, and she knew she had to move. She turned and walked back to the safe house, her steps slow and heavy. The room felt empty without him, the silence deafening.

Zoya sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on the floor. She thought about everything they had been through, everything they had shared. The late-night conversations, the quiet moments, the way he had looked at her like she was the only person in the world. It had all felt so real, so true. But now, it was gone, and she was left with nothing but questions.

Why had he left? What had he done? And why hadn't he trusted her enough to tell her the truth?

Zoya didn't know. And maybe she never would.

Δ

Days turned into weeks, and Zoya tried to move on. She found a small apartment on the other side of the city, got a job at a café, and started to build a new life. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't forget him. He was everywhere—in the sound of the rain, in the quiet moments before sleep, in the way her heart ached every time she thought of him.

One evening, as she was closing up the café, she saw a familiar figure standing outside. Her heart skipped a beat, but when she stepped closer, she realized it wasn't him. It was Noor.

The girl looked different—older, more tired. But there was still a sharpness in her eyes, a hardness that hadn't been there before.

"Zoya," Noor said, her voice flat. "We need to talk."

Zoya hesitated, but something in Noor's tone made her nod. She locked the door and followed Noor down the street, her heart pounding in her chest.

They ended up in a small park, the kind of place where people went to be alone. Noor sat on a bench, her arms crossed, while Zoya stood a few feet away, unsure of what to say.

"He's gone, isn't he?" Zoya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Noor nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yeah. He's gone."

Zoya felt a lump forming in her throat, but she swallowed it down. "Why? What happened?"

Noor sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's complicated. But the truth is, Aarish was in deeper than any of us realized. He made some bad choices, got involved with some dangerous people. And in the end, he paid the price."

Zoya's chest tightened, and she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "What are you saying?"

Noor looked at her, her eyes filled with something that looked almost like pity. "I'm saying he's not coming back, Zoya. He's gone. And you need to let him go."

Zoya shook her head, her vision blurring with tears. "No. No, he wouldn't just leave. He wouldn't—"

"He did," Noor interrupted, her voice harsh. "And if you don't let him go, you're going to end up just like him. Is that what you want?"

Zoya didn't respond. She couldn't. All she could do was stand there, her heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

Noor stood up and walked over to her, her expression softening. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice quieter now. "I know it hurts. But you have to move on. For your sake, and for his."

Zoya looked at her, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know how."

Noor reached out and squeezed her shoulder, a rare gesture of comfort. "You'll figure it out. Just take it one day at a time."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving Zoya standing there, alone in the rain.