The sun had long dipped below the horizon, leaving Misthi alone in the faint glow of a single lantern. Her hands shook as she held the letter, its edges worn from the grasp of trembling fingers. The words written there seemed impossible, cold, and cruel. She could barely breathe, the world around her becoming blurred as her vision clouded with tears.

She clutched the letter to her chest, as if holding it close would somehow bring him back. Her mind replayed every memory of Abir—their walks along the riverbank, their whispered promises under the stars, the gentle warmth of his hand as he held hers on their wedding day. She remembered the way he had looked at her, with a gaze so fierce and loving it felt like it could hold the entire universe. She had believed, with every part of her, that his promise would bring him back to her.

And now, he was gone.

Misthi sank to the floor, her shoulders heaving as she tried to breathe through the grief that tore through her. She could still feel the delicate flutter in her belly, their child—a piece of him, a part of his spirit left behind. It was as if, in this final gift, Abir had ensured that she would never be alone, that a part of him would always be with her.

Hours passed, the darkness around her deepening, yet she remained there, cradling the letter, trying to come to terms with the loss. The pain felt endless, like a vast, empty chasm that would never be filled. But in that empty silence, she heard his voice, steady and warm, as if he were standing right beside her.

"Misthi," he had once told her, "love is stronger than distance, stronger than time. It binds us together, no matter where we are."

She clung to those words, letting them fill her with a bittersweet sense of peace. Slowly, Misthi found the strength to lift her head. She placed a gentle hand over her stomach, feeling the soft beat of life within her, and whispered, “Abir, I’ll raise our child with all the love you’ve given me. I’ll teach them the strength you showed, the courage you lived by, and the love you left behind.”

---

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow through the curtains of their bedroom, Misthi felt a deep sense of calm settle within her. She clung to Abir's words, letting them fill her with a bittersweet sense of peace. The shadows in the room seemed less daunting now, the silence less oppressive. She knew she had to be strong, not just for herself but for the child growing inside her.

Her voice trembled as she spoke, a wave of emotion crashing over her. “You’ll always be a part of their life, Abir. I’ll tell them stories of your bravery, how you faced every challenge with a smile, how you loved fiercely and lived fully.”

She could almost hear him responding, his deep voice filling the room as it had so many times before. “You’ll be an incredible mother, Misthi. Our child will know me through you.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, but she quickly brushed it away. “I promise to keep your memory alive. I’ll decorate their room with pictures of you and tell them how you fought for our country, how you fought for our love.”

In that moment, she felt a stirring within her, a gentle reminder of the life they had created together. “You’ll be so proud of our little one, Abir. I can already feel your strength in them.”

Misthi imagined the day she would hold their child in her arms, sharing stories of their father and the love that had blossomed amidst the chaos of war. “I’ll tell them about our wedding day,” she murmured, her heart swelling with bittersweet nostalgia. “About how we stood beneath the brilliant sky, surrounded by the love of our families and friends. How you looked at me as if I were the only person in the world.”

She could almost see Abir’s smile, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about their future. “I wish you could be here to see our child grow, to guide them the way you guided me.”

As she lay back down, her hand resting over her stomach, she felt a renewed sense of determination. “But I won’t let your absence overshadow the joy of this new life,” she promised. “Every heartbeat of our child will be a testament to your love, to our love. I will ensure they grow up knowing how brave their father was.”

The room was silent, but in her heart, she felt Abir’s presence. “I’ll carry you with me, always,” she whispered, allowing the tears to flow freely now. “You may be far away, but you will never be forgotten. I’ll tell them how you fought for peace, how you sacrificed everything for others, how you always believed in love.”

As the night deepened, Misthi closed her eyes, envisioning a future filled with laughter, stories, and love. “We will be a family, Abir. I’ll make sure of it.”

And as she drifted off to sleep, her heart was lighter. She knew that while the road ahead would be filled with challenges, she would face them with the strength Abir had inspired in her. Their love story would continue, not just in memories but in the life they had created together—a bond that would transcend time and space, forever illuminating her path.