THE STONE OF DESTINY

 A Traditional Love Story: Love Rekindled

Part 2 

The precious stone, the symbol of my love and choice, had fallen from the old man's grasp, and in that moment, I knew I had been given a second chance. I held the stone close to my chest, feeling its warmth, as if it understood my heart’s desire.

Without hesitation, I sought out the man I truly loved, the one who had always been in my heart. I found him near the edge of the village, where the hills met the sky. His presence, as always, filled me with a peace I couldn’t describe. With trembling hands, I took the stone and held it out to him.

"This," I whispered, "is for you. You are the one I choose."

I stood there, holding the stone out to him, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope. For a moment, he didn’t speak. His eyes, dark and full of emotion, searched my face, as though he couldn’t believe what was happening. The breeze stirred the air between us, but everything else seemed to stand still.

"I…" His voice was soft, almost a whisper. "I never thought this moment would come."

I blinked, confused by his words. He looked down at the stone in my hand, his fingers brushing against mine as he gently took it. The touch was electric, sending a shiver down my spine. When he looked back at me, there was something in his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before. Something deeper, warmer. Something that made my heart swell with hope.

"I have loved you for so long," he said, his voice barely above a breath. "But I never dared to think you could feel the same."

The weight of his words hit me like a wave. How could this be? I had always thought I was the one harboring secret feelings, never daring to hope that he might feel the same. I stared at him, my mind racing, trying to comprehend what he was saying.

"You… you’ve loved me?" I managed to ask, my voice shaking.

He smiled, a small, soft smile that lit up his face. "For years," he admitted. "Since we were young. But I hid it, because I thought you saw me only as a friend."

I felt my cheeks flush, warmth spreading through me as his words sank in. All those moments we spent together—our quiet conversations, the way he’d look at me when I laughed, the way his presence always made me feel calm and safe. It had always been more than friendship for him, and I had never seen it.

His friends had known all along, of course. They would tease him about me whenever I wasn’t around, and I remembered now how they would smile and exchange knowing glances when I would join them. But I had always brushed it off, never thinking there was anything behind it.

"I… I didn’t know," I whispered. "I never imagined…"

He reached out and gently lifted my chin, his touch tender. "I didn’t want to burden you with my feelings, especially when I thought you deserved someone better."

"Better?" I shook my head, tears filling my eyes. "No one could ever be better. You’ve always been the one."

For a moment, we simply stood there, the stone resting between us, now a shared symbol of our love. The weight of the past, the misunderstandings, the unspoken feelings—it all melted away. All that remained was the truth: we had both been in love with each other all this time, and now, finally, we were free to express it.

He stepped closer, his hand still resting on mine as he looked into my eyes, his gaze full of tenderness and something deeper. Something that had always been there, but was now clearer than ever.

"Are you sure?" he asked softly. "After everything that happened with the old man… do you truly choose me?"

I nodded without hesitation. "I’ve always chosen you. I was just too afraid to see it."

He pulled me into his arms, and for the first time, I felt the warmth of his embrace, a warmth that I realized had been missing from my life until now. We stood there, holding each other, the world around us fading into the background. It was just the two of us, bound by the stone and by the love we had both carried in our hearts for so long.

From that moment on, our relationship grew stronger with each passing day. We spent hours together, talking about everything and nothing, as we always had, but now with the understanding that we were building a future together. Our connection, once shrouded in uncertainty, became something deeper, richer, and more fulfilling than I had ever imagined.

_Gladwill Maiyo_