^{Designed in Canva}

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As I looked at the endless blue water in front of me, I felt the salty wind blowing through my hair. I had always dreamed of leaving my small city apartment and coming to a place like this. And now I was here, on a rocky cliff above the Pacific, holding Luke’s hand.

Luke and I had a stormy relationship from the beginning. We met at a party of a friend we had in common 3 years ago and we felt an instant attraction. Luke was a musician who lived on the edge - wild and free. I was an accountant who played it safe, always planning my next step. We were opposites in every way. But when we were together, nothing else mattered.

I ignored my common sense and fell in love with him quickly and deeply. Luke had a way of making me feel things I had never felt before. But he also made me nervous. I never knew when he would show up or when he would disappear.

He broke my heart over and over again. But I couldn’t stay away, hoping he would change. That he would want to be with me for real. But Luke hated the idea of “settling down.” He wanted to be free to follow his muse wherever it led him. I admired and hated his carefree lifestyle.

So, we kept breaking up and making up. Each time it hurt more, and my sensible side told me to stop. But leaving Luke felt like losing part of myself.

Original image taken from the announcement post of the contest

I glanced at the Turquoise ring on my finger, shining in the sun. It reminded me of one of our happy moments. Luke had given it to me when he came back from a 3-month tour. “It made me think of your eyes,” he had said. “You were always on my mind.”

That was 2 years ago, and a lot had changed since then. But I still wore the ring as a sign of the love I couldn’t forget. Being here with Luke now, I felt the same warmth as before. When we were alone, everything was perfect.

I wished this moment would never end. To hold on to the feeling of completeness I only found with him. But I knew it wouldn’t last. It never did.

Luke let go of my hand and moved away from me. He looked at me with his brown eyes full of that restless desire I knew so well. “It’s time,” he said simply.

I tried not to cry as I realized this was goodbye. He had given me this gift - a glimpse of the freedom, adventure, and love I had always wanted but never allowed myself to have. Now it was time to let him go…

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^{I would like to invite @ty-ty, @dove11, @cruzamilcar63, @waterjoe, @senehasa, @damithudaya, @f2i5, @weisser-rabe, @enrisanti, and @patjewell to join this contest through this link, if they have not already taken part in it.}

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^{Author: @waqarahmadshah | Date: 16-Oct-2023 | Achievement 1}