Page 69 - KTUDELL E-LIT | Issue 4 - January 2025

2025 SHORT STORIES

Everything felt like just another day when she and Lucas had come together to
study. As she gazed at Lucas for a long time, she realized how much she had
missed him. Lucas, noticing her intense stare, touched his face and asked, “Why
are you looking at me like that, Sophy? Is there something on my face?”
Sophia always laughed at his goofy antics, so without a second thought about her limited
time, she burst into laughter. However, the scent of the brewing tea brought her back to reality. “I
just wanted to look at you, Lucas. But I have things to say, and I do not have much time,” she said.

“Is something wrong, love? You look a little “Do not be sad, Sophy. Every ending is a new
worried,” Lucas asked with concern. beginning. Knowing you was like starting my
Sophia wanted to tell him how much she had favourite book every day with the excitement
missed him and how much she had needed of never having read it before. You are both
him over the past five years. Instead, she asked my favourite book and its author. But others
one question. deserve to know this author, too.”
“Does this table remind you of anything?” At that moment, the two experienced love in
After glancing around, Lucas could not believe its purest form. But suddenly, the waiter
that Sophia was sitting at this table. Just as appeared, holding the tray that marked their
Lucas was about to speak, Sophia cut him off. end.
“Yes, Lucas, I remember the promise we made “Your tea is ready.”
about not sitting at this table. But you know I Sophia tightly held Lucas’s hands as he
would not have done this if I had any other struggled to hold back his tears. Finally, he
choice,” she said. spoke his tearful farewell.
Lucas had so much he wanted to say, but his “Now go and tell them our story.”
love and trust for Sophia suppressed it. He
remained silent and let Sophia speak. Seeing One Month Later
this, Sophia gave a bittersweet smile. Without That day, Sophia followed Lucas’s advice to
hesitation, she explained everything, including the letter. The story she wrote for the
how they had broken up in the future. She magazine achieved unprecedented success,
paused her speech with these words: setting her on a path to becoming a world-
“What I am trying to say is that everything I renowned author. After celebrating with her
know about love, I learned from you, Lucas. To friends at the office, it was time to return to
me, you are the meaning of love. Love without the cafe, which had become a symbol of her
you is like a language I do not know how to success. As always, she ordered her coffee—
speak. Without your help, it is impossible for without milk but with sugar. Life once again
me to do this. That is why I broke our promise felt worth living. Today, unlike usual, the
and sat at this table.” emptiness in her heart felt filled. Though she
“Sophy... I am so sorry for the situation you could not quite understand why, the feeling
have found yourself in. It is hard for me to was familiar.
understand the feelings that led to our break up Suddenly, she felt her heart tremble at the
in the future, but it is difficult to erase a love familiar, gentle voice from her past. She
like ours from our hearts. I know that, deep turned toward the voice, her heart pounding:
within your heart, there lies a woman who “Hello, Sophy...”.
speaks that language and a man who loves only
her. Even though I am happy that you came THE END
here to see me, the people you really need to
talk to are them.”
Sophia’s inevitable realization had come. It was
as if she had finally confronted truths she had
always known deep down but had refused to
accept. Overwhelmed by emotion, a single tear
rolled down her cheek. Lucas gently reached
out, wiped the tear away, and was reminded of
Sophia, who would soon leave him. Sophia
leaned into Lucas’s compassionate hand,
feeling as if all her sorrow had vanished. But as
the scent of the tea from the kitchen grew
stronger, sadness surged within her once again.
Noticing this, Lucas spoke the words that would
remain etched in Sophia’s heart.

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