Chapter 10 % But just a few words shattered all his defenses .
& Tm sorry .
Mr.
Jagger , I said softly % You and I we were never a couple % dont remember you at all not your name , not your face , not the things you say we shared % Maybe youre still holding on to something , maybe you still feel something but to me , were nothing .
Youre just a stranger ? I stepped forward and took my lovers hand .
As you can see , I already have someone I love .
So please , stop coming back .
% Tristan lay on the ground , barely breathing He looked like a lost ghost soulless , wandering aimlessly between the living and the dead .
After that day , he began drowning himself in alcohol He wandered from bar to bar , night after night .
People only whispered about him now the disgraced heir of the Jagger family , a mad drunk with a criminal record .
His former glory had long turned to dust / He went to a tattoo parlor and had my name etched into the palm of his hand .
% He thought that if he held on tight enough , Id never slip away again .
But night after night , when I appeared in his dreams , his eyes would turn red .
% Why didnt you come see me ? he asked , again and again .
% The truth was I did .
% We met a hundred times .
% Ninety of those times , I stood in silence .
% The ninety ninth time , he looked at me and asked .
% This is the last time , isnt it ? % I dont know how he knew .
% But I nodded .
% He smiled faintly , as if relieved .
% He didnt say anything else .
% When he woke up , he left for a mountain temple .

% He said he would live out the rest of his life there , in quiet repentance .
% I thought that was the end of our story .
% After all , he never died again .
% Until the night before my wedding .
% I was in my bridal clothes , glowing with the promise of a new beginning when he appeared once more .
% Tristan had aged .
% No , more than that he was dying .
% Years of reckless self destruction had ravaged his body .
% He was a shadow of what he had once been./ When he saw me , dressed in white , something flickered in his eyes .
% Nostalgia .
Regret .
Longing .
% You were this beautiful the day I married you , he murmured .
We got married by the sea .
You said you loved the sound of the waves … % His voice was hoarse , unfamiliar like it belonged to someone else .
% I remember you cried and said marrying me was your greatest wish .
I wiped your tears , afraid youd mess up your makeup and regret it later .
He smiled , lost in a memory only he could see .
% I said nothing Just listened .
Eventually , the story ended .
!! Im dying , he said simply We both knew it was true .
212 1000 % 21 ^^^ ni 0 0 O Then , slowly , he bowed to me a full ninety degrees .
Im sorry , Winda , he said .
I owed you so many apologies .

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I never said a single one .
> It was me .
I was the fool .
I didnt understand my own heart .
I was obsessed with Diana and I let her hurt you .
I let myself hurt you .
Each time you died , I pretended it didnt matter .
And after a while … I started to believe it .
He smiled bitterly .
But youre happy now .
Thats good .
His eyes searched mine .
Does he love you ? There was a quiet pleading behind his question .
I nodded .
At least , for now .
I didnt look too far ahead .
I was content with this moment , with this joy .
Thats enough , he said softly .
Bless you , Winda .
I hope youre happy for the rest of your life .
} He hesitated before closing his eyes , as if trying to imprint my face onto his soul .
Thank you , I whispered .
He smiled .

And in that second , his life came to an end .
I stepped forward and noticed a note clutched tightly in his hand .
The paper was crumpled from being held too long .
I knelt down to read it .
On it , written in a trembling hand .
[ Winda , I love you .
If I meet you in the next life , I will love you properly .
Im sorry .
] There were water stains on the back .
Maybe they were his tears .
} I didnt linger .
I simply placed the note back in his hand .
Tristan died .
And I felt … nothing .
No sorrow .
No pain .
Because I still had my happiness .
} And ahead of me an entire life waiting to be lived .
( The End ) 10:35 AM I said nothing .
Just listened .
་ ་ ཕ་ ་ ་ས་ ད ་ ་་་ ་་་ པ་ Eventually , the story ended .
Im dying , he said simply .
We both knew it was true .