Dusk

Darius

He remembers the moment she fell. The smile she gave him when their eyes met, the resignation in her beautiful face, and the last words she said before she cut their call abruptly minutes before he realizes what she meant, not even giving him a chance to reply, to say goodbye

Sorry. Forgive me

She says gently while closing her eyes slowly, her face look so peaceful at the moment

Darius remembers running. Running as fast as he can. He kept running even when his knees and legs gave up and his breathing hard, losing so much oxygen as he running without ever showing the sign of stopping, Darius still push his strength to the limit, to reach her, to hold her, to prevent the inevitable but his efforts has gone to waste, he was too late. He knows he was failed and yet he can't stop himself for believing the opposite

He lost her, there's nothing he can do to have her back. She has left him forever

The woman he always loved from the moment he lay his gaze at her is forever gone from his life, the smile which always makes his day brighter has gone. He will never see her beautiful face ever again and his heart recoil at the thought of it.

"Do you love me?" She used to ask this when the both of them lying beside each other, teasing, touching, exchanging kisses between words, he used to hug her, spooning her small figure with his huge frame and give her kisses while she chuckles, frowning and protesting about how his stubble tickled her but her deep brown eyes bright with happiness and he always replies with more kisses, the both of them laughed together

"I will always love you" He replied as he hold her close, embracing her

"Then never let me go, stay with me forever" She said

, now that he remembers again she never said about loving him back. Maybe that's why this is end in the wrong way, maybe she never loves him

Maybe it was only his illusions, his wishes

Because if she do love him she would never done this to him, if she truly love him she would never leave him and haunted him with guilt

Sometimes when the sadness of her absence was gone, the anger came to

replace it. Darius hated her selfishness, she was cruel. She was the most cunning and cruel woman he ever met but also the one who hold his heart

He wants to yell at her, he wants to ask why she did it. Why she chooses to end her life, what else he have to give her to stop her from leaving him but he knows it was an impossible request and now he had to continue his life without her by his side

Time would not stopping even if his life seems to already ended

Someone knocked at his door, pulling him back to reality after daydreaming about that dreadful day. Darius look at the clock above the table and quickly straighten his suit, plastering a smile on his face. He can't look gloomy at his sister's wedding "Come in"

A curtain of raven black hair peeking from the corner before her full face comes into view, there's no mistake about it, his sister, Gwen has come to check on him. Her smile faltering when she saw his face but then she quickly gave him a small grin

"Why would the bride check on me? I'm not the one getting married today" He asks her, his sister grin again, walking as fast as she can in the long wedding gown she wears

"I was worried! I thought you not going to come and escort me. I wait for almost an hour for you but you never come to my roon" Gwen pouted, snaking her arms around his gently

He pinches her nose "Of course I'll come! I'm not that heartless. I just need time to adjust the suit, you know I hate wearing them" Gwen swat his hand away, protesting  his teasing "Darius!"

He raised one of his eyebrows "What? I need to tease my sister for the last time before she becomes someone else wife" He shrugged nonchalantly. Gwen rolling her eyes dramatically

"You still can see me even after the wedding, Darius. It's not like I'm going to the end of the world" She scoffed

"But you're going to leave for a few months after today and I'm going to miss you" His sister has planned to go around the world with her soon-to-be husband, Oliver

"I know, I'm going to miss you too! I even asked my friend, Tiffany to come and check on you once every few weeks" She says cheerfully

Darius groans "For the last time Gwen, I don't need you to be my matchmaker"

"Darius, have you seen her? Tiffany is the everyman dream woman, she's so sweet, beautiful, sexy and you know what else? She is interested in you!" Gwen says again

"Hey! What's wrong with me?" Darius asks, offended at her sister's words, Gwen grin at him "There's nothing wrong with you, it's just you are so gloomy these past few years, it's made woman hardly had interest in you"

"Just tell her to find another man, I'm not Interested in any relationship with anyone" He crossed his arms, not interested to continue this conversation further

"Oh come on, at least give her one date, Darius. After one date if you still haven't interested in her I'll support your decision but you should at least promise me you'll try"

"Gwen..." Darius is about to argue when his sister suddenly snap

"It's been five years, Darius! Five years since that woman was gone. I can't see you like this every time, you need to forget about her" Gwen says angrily, she's about to say more words when she looks at the expression on his face, her anger suddenly turned to guilt

"Please, Darius... You're my brother, I just wish your happiness... I can't see you broken like this" She pleases, her green eyes, the same shade as his lock into his, seeing his sister dejected face, Darius knew he was losing the argument so he nods, sighing "Alright. I'll do it but don't rush me, but I promise I will try" He knows that this is pointless but seeing the big  smile on his sister's face makes it a lot better

There's no way he can forget about that woman. The one who got away from him because she will always hold a special place in his heart but he can do one date if it pleases his sister even though the last thing he wants is bringing another woman to his miserable life

His sister Gwen is one of the few people he had left, their parents have left them early. Their mother left first when she was diagnosed with breast cancer when he just turns 10 and three years later, their father had an accident when coming home from his work. They're living with their grandparents until Darius was old enough and had a job, he then takes care of his sister

Having to work and took care of Gwen it's not an easy matter but he was happy to do it seeing her happy like this is always been his only wish now his little sister going to have a family of her own and thankfully Oliver seems to be a nice man

"Great! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Gwen is about to jump in joy before she looks down and remembers her wedding gown, she looks at him sheepishly and then decided to pull him into a hug "Thank you, Darius! I'm so happy to hear you want to try!"

"You're welcome, dear sister" He returns her hug "Just promise me you'll stay in touch with me even after this"

Gwen's eyes were glassy with unshed tears "Of course I will, you're my one and only brother. I won't leave you all alone" Gwen quickly add "Now you're making me very emotional" They chuckle and then Darius took his sister's hand gently

"I know that's why we should go right now before you ruin your makeup, I have one job to make sure you arrive at the altar safely"

Gwen laughs "Ok, let's go, dear brother"