The Season of Loneliness
Dubai's atmosphere was bursting with colors — a new place, new friends, brightly lit streets, sparkling markets… but Ramish heart remained as desolate, as silent, and as barren as ever. His loneliness only grew deeper. He thought about Richer constantly, losing himself in memories of him. He longed to see Richer again, but that dream now felt like an impossible wish. Perhaps only a miracle could unite him with Richer again.
Ramish would often say:
"Richer's absence has broken me so completely that no joy in the world brings comfort to my heart anymore."
He remembered those moments when he used to go meet Richer. Now, his heart searched for him everywhere — yet he was nowhere to be found.
Maybe this is what true loneliness feels like…
One day, there was an annual party at the office. All his colleagues were celebrating with laughter, music echoed through the hall, and the room shimmered with lights. But Ramish… sat quietly on a chair in the hotel's balcony, a drink in his hand, eyes fixed on the sky, and lips sealed in deep silence.
It was as if he wasn't even part of the gathering.
His gaze lingered on the moon.
And in his heart, he whispered:
"Tell Richer… life without him is no life at all. His memory echoes through every vein in my body. My eyes are weary from waiting, and my heart keeps calling out to him."
"Tell him to come now… I can't bear the waiting any longer."
"Even a single moment alone feels unbearable. So many seasons have come and gone… yet he hasn't returned."
"But this time, he must come… because this separation has become far too long."
The moon listened in silence —
perhaps its silver light was desperate to carry Ramish's words across the sky…
to Richer.
Ramish's gaze was fixed on the moon, when suddenly his friend approached, smiling gently and said,
"Ramish! What's the matter? Why did you leave the party and come sit here alone in silence? What are you looking at in the sky? Are you talking to the moon? You know… only lovers talk to the moon.
Tell me—have you fallen in love with someone?"
Hearing this, Ramish was startled. He gave a faint smile and replied,
"No, my friend… it's nothing like that."
His friend looked into his eyes and softly asked,
"If it's nothing, then why are your eyes wet? If there's something in your heart—some worry—share it with me. Maybe it will ease your burden, maybe you'll feel a little lighter."
Ramish shook his head and said quietly,
"I'm fine."
But his friend gently insisted,
"Ramish, there's definitely something that's troubling you. I think… maybe you've fallen in love?"
Ramish looked at him—and his eyes welled up.
In that moment, his friend understood everything. Ramish was indeed in love, but he didn't want to speak of it.
So the friend decided to open his own heart.
"I fell in love too, Ramish… with my childhood friend. But confessing it was incredibly hard.
Every day I burned inside, wondering—What will happen if I confess? Will he understand my love?
I used to see him daily, but I could never bring myself to tell him.
Then one day, I finally did. And he rejected me. I cried a lot that day.
I became quiet, broken. Loneliness became my destiny.
But then one day, I vowed—I won't give up until he accepts my love.
I tried, again and again. I broke a thousand times. Fought my own darkness. But I didn't stop.
And finally, one day, he accepted me.
No one ever knew the pain behind my smile.
Ramish… love is love—it can happen with anyone. But people… they don't understand.
Some call it a sin, some lust, some indecency.
But my heart knows, and God knows… I never shared a physical bond with him.
All I ever did was kiss his lips—many times.
But having him beside me… that was everything. More than anything else in the world."
Ramish's eyes widened in surprise.
His friend held Ramish's hand and said softly,
"Ramish, you can talk to me, if you ever feel ready."
Ramish sighed… and finally shared everything.
He told him about Richer.
His friend sat silent for a moment… then said,
"Ramish… it's hard to believe, but you are fortunate. You were given wings to fly… and you met your love.
Make this love your strength, not your weakness."
Ramish closed his eyes and whispered,
"My friend… I'm tired. Tired of waiting for him. Tired of fighting this loneliness.
Since we've been apart, I count every day.
And when the wind blows, my heart trembles with his memory.
I shiver at the thought—What if I never meet him again?
If I ever do meet Richer, I'll tell him… how poisonous separation can be."
His friend placed a firm hand on his shoulder,
"Ramish, hold yourself together. It's not impossible—you just need a little courage.
Try to go to Thailand. Meet him."
But Ramish replied with quiet sadness,
"No, my friend… I cannot go. Not until he finds me himself. Or unless… a miracle happens.
When I lost my wings, I was reminded—I can't go to Thailand.
If I do, I'll die on the way.
That's the greatest grief… I can't reach out to him, and I can't go to him."
Ramish smiled faintly.
"Now… even the wind, the moon, the stars, the seasons… all remind me of his absence.
And living in this loneliness—isn't easy.
Not when even your own shadow begins to leave you alone."
His friend pulled him into a warm hug.
"My prayers are with you, Ramish. I hope you meet Richer soon.
May God reunite you with your love."
"May the sorrow in your heart fade away..."
"Come on, Ramish! Everyone's dancing, enjoying the party. Let's join in and chase your loneliness away too."
Ramish softly replied, "This loneliness will only go away when Richer comes back, my friend Mehmat."
Mehmat smiled gently and said, "Ramish, we'll be the cure for your aching heart. And if we can't do anything, we'll pray for you. He'll come to you, yearning—your Richer will find his way to you."
Ramish gave a faint smile, "Yes, maybe your prayers will be the reason he returns to me."
Mehmat looked into Ramish's eyes and, in a soft voice, said, "Richer has always been with you. You just need to change the way you see him. He's in your memories, in your words, in your every feeling. You just need to feel him... learn to live your emotions. And believe in your love—because you will meet him."
Ramish gently said, "Thank you, Mehmat... for all these words—for trying to soothe my heart."
Mehmat grinned, "No, Ramish! This won't do now... come on, let's go dance at the party. Everyone's enjoying—it's your turn now."
Ramish hesitated, "No, Mehmat... I just don't feel up to it."
But Mehmat held his hand firmly and pulled him into the crowd of friends. The hall was filled with laughter, colorful lights, and music.
"Ramish! Where were you?" someone shouted. "Everyone's having fun, look!"
Mehmat explained, "He was with me. We were just sitting off to the side, talking."
"Alright," they said, "then come dance with us now!"
Mehmat added with enthusiasm, "Ramish, wherever you are, joy is there too. You just need to shift your perspective. Turn the ache in your heart into prayer. And maybe, just maybe, your Richer will return to you because of that prayer."
Ramish nodded with a smile, "Thank you, Mehmat. Your words have brought a strange sense of peace to my heart. I'll try not to dwell in sadness anymore."
Then he blended into the crowd. He danced with his friends to the rhythm of the music. For a few fleeting moments, the smile that had been lost for days returned to his face.
When exhaustion crept in, they all sat down for dinner. Ramish turned to Mehmat again, "Because of you, I truly feel lighter tonight."
Mehmat gently placed his hand on Ramish's shoulder, "Ramish, if ever your heart feels heavy, if the loneliness comes again... just come to me. I'll always be here to listen."
Ramish nodded, smiling, "I will."
The party ended, and all the friends, tired and content, returned to their rooms and quickly fell asleep—except Ramish.
But tonight was different. Though still awake, he wasn't sad. There was a calm smile on his face—as if Richer was close by, as if Ramish could feel him near.
He walked to the window, looked up at the moon, and smiled softly. The moonlight seemed to understand, as if it bore witness to his emotions.
Then, quietly, he whispered to the moon:
"Moon... I'm sure I'll meet Richer very soon. That moment is not far now."
And then, softly, a couplet escaped his lips:
"One day, you and I will meet,
And our bond will never break.
With you, I'll live this life,
A life filled with joy and grace."
The moon remained silent—but in its gentle light, perhaps a hidden prayer glowed, as if whispering:
"You will meet Richer... very soon."