She kept on walking.

The distance between them grew with every passing moment,

The hustle and bustle of busy streets came to a halt−

It was as if time stood still.

A few seconds became eternity.

And in that eternity he hoped,

The way winter hopes for spring,

Or a sailor hopes for the sight of land,

He hoped that she would look back,

For one last time!

At that instant nothing else in the universe mattered.

Oh what couldn't he give for one glimpse of her!

Just one glance!

Just one glimpse!

He could sell his soul for one last smile.

Every ounce of his existence prayed for her to look back,

But she kept on walking,

Defying all the willpower of his love,

Crashing the last bit of light in his heart.

Suddenly her silhouette disappeared in the horizon.

Emptiness engulfed his heart within moments,

It was like the eerie darkness right after dusk.

The sharp stabs of numbness ensued,

And thus began his eternal winter,

Beyond the shadows of life!

Syed Ibrahim Saajid is an occasional contributor to this page.