Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Sana recovered from her surgery, and her strength and energy slowly returned.

Ayani : "Sana, you're actually smiling again."

Sana's eyes sparkled. "I'm feeling better, Ayani."

As the months passed... Sana's strength and energy slowly returned. She started playing games again... and Ayani would join her.

They would spend hours building forts... playing dress-up... and chasing each other around the park.

One day... as they sat on a bench... watching the clouds drift lazily by... Sana turned to Ayani with a serious look.

"Ayani... I'm so glad we're best friends."

Ayani : "I'm glad too, Sana."

Sana's face softened... and she hugged Ayani tightly. "I love you, Ayani."

Ayani hugged her back... feeling a sense of peace. "I love you too, Sana."

But even as they cherished their time together..
Ayani knew that life was precious... and unpredictable.

And then, just as things were falling into place, tragedy struck again.

Ayani's eyes locked onto Sana's face, and she felt a chill run down her spine. Sana's skin was pale, her eyes sunken, and her chest barely moving. She looked...
different.
Still.
Quiet.
Ayani whispered, "Sana?"

She reached out a trembling hand to touch Sana's cheek.
It felt cold.
Ayani's eyes welled up with tears. "Sana, wake up," she whispered again.

Ayani's voice shook as she called out, "Sana! Sana, please!"
But there was no response.

Tears streamed down her face, slow and steady, as she whispered, "Sana, please don't leave me." Her voice cracked, breaking the silence.

Ayani's eyes locked onto Sana's, searching for a glimmer of life.
But there was nothing.
Just stillness.

She felt a lump form in her throat, making it hard to breathe. Ayani's world was crumbling around her, and she couldn't do anything to stop it.

As she sat there, holding Sana's hand, Ayani felt like time was standing still. The world around her faded away....

People started to gather around them, their faces filled with concern and sadness.
Sana's parents came, their eyes full with tears. Ayani's father, grandma, uncles, and aunts, Nalini and Diya, all came, their faces somber. They tried to comfort Ayani, but she was too stunned to respond.

As the reality of the situation set in, Ayani felt a numbness wash over her. She couldn't process what was happening. She held Sana's hand, feeling the warmth seep out of it. She looked at Sana's face, her eyes fixed on her friend's happy smile.

The day went by in a blur. Ayani remembered people talking, crying, and hugging her, but she couldn't focus. She felt like she was living in a dream, a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from.

And then, everything went black. Ayani fainted, her small body crumpling to the ground.

When she came to, she was lying in her bed, surrounded by her family. She had a fever, and her body ached all over. She couldn't attend Sana's funeral, which made her feel even more lost and alone.

But even in her grief, Ayani remembered the one last look she shared with Sana. She remembered Sana's happy face, her bright smile, and her sparkling eyes. That memory would stay with Ayani forever....

-------------------------------

Three years went by, and Ayani grew up, but the memory of Sana never faded.
She often thought of her, wondering what she would be like if she were still alive, and imagining all the adventures they would have had together.
The promise they made broke because life had other plans.
Fate had other ideas. Sometimes, no matter how hard we hold on, things slip away from us.

Ayani thought they had more time, more laughter, more adventures together. But Sana's illness had other plans. It crept in silently and stole her away.

Ayani remembered the day Sana was diagnosed, the day their world changed forever.
She recalled the treatments, hospital visits, and sleepless nights. She remembered the promises they made to each other: to fight, to hope, to never give up.
But in the end, it wasn't enough. The promise broke because life can be cruel, taking away the things we love most without warning or mercy.

Ayani was left with only memories, tears, and a shattered heart.
She had to pick up the pieces of her broken promise,
wonder what could have been,
and grieve for what was lost.

~
the promise they made,
the promise that was broken,
but never forgotten.