103. A painful Goodbye

"But that year...," he continued, his expression growing more somber, "my grandfather and parents decided it was time for us to spend a month together as a family. They came to pick me up, and though I was reluctant to leave, they insisted and I had to listen to them because I was too small to go against their wish. They were not there for me and I wanted to stay with my Rose but I was helpless."

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to hide her tears.

"Before heading back home, I decided to visit her one last time and explain that I wouldn't be able to see her for a whole month. Only I know how I controlled my emotions that day in front of her when all I wanted was to cry. As I stood before her, her innocent eyes filled with confusion and concern, my heart ached at the thought of being away from her side, and somewhere I wasn't feeling good that day."

He exhaled a deep breath and it felt like he went to that day itself as he told me about that.

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Flashback

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Rose, who alwa