Ayra's POV
The van hummed softly as it wound down from the mountain roads, cutting through mist and forests that still clung to the hush of high altitudes. Our limbs were sore, hearts still heavy with everything the Annapurna trek gave—and took—but when the first glimpse of Pokhara's shimmering Phewa Lake came into view, I felt something inside me exhale.
Selene, half-asleep beside me, stirred and whispered, "Is that the lake?"
"Yes," I murmured, eyes wide as the reflection of the hills sparkled in the water. "It's beautiful."
Eliot squeezed my hand quietly.
We checked into a lakeside villa with large windows and wooden floors, where the scent of earth and jasmine filtered through the breeze. Selene and Antonio had the room across ours. It felt peaceful here—less about the climb, more about the stillness after the storm.
—————–Day One in Pokhara—————
We rented paddleboats and drifted across the lake. Selene leaned back, one hand grazing the surface, her laughter echoing as Antonio splashed water with his oar. A soft wind tangled our hair. Temple bells rang from a small island shrine in the middle of the lake.
Later that evening, we walked through the Lakeside market. Colorful prayer flags danced above us, and street vendors offered steaming momos, handwoven scarves, and carved wooden souvenirs.
I caught Eliot sneaking glances at a delicate moonstone pendant.
"For Selene?" I asked.
He shook his head, cheeks reddening. "For you. Reminds me of that night in Ghorepani."
I didn't say anything—just took it and looped it around my neck, heart knocking on my ribs.
That night, we dined at a rooftop café that overlooked the whole lake. Selene and Antonio sat under a blanket, their foreheads pressed together as soft music floated around them.
"I could live here," Selene said wistfully.
Antonio looked at her like he already did.
——Day Two: The Falls and the Farewell——
We visited the famous Devi's Falls, watching the water disappear into the earth like a secret. Eliot took my photo as the wind caught my hair and turned me to laughter.
At the nearby cave temple, Selene whispered a wish. I didn't ask what it was.
As evening settled, we gathered by the lake again, this time with music playing softly from Antonio's speaker. We sat in a circle—our boots muddy, hair tousled, hearts full—and spoke of everything and nothing.
"Do you think we'll ever come back here?" I asked.
"Maybe," Selene said. "But even if we don't… we're not the same people anymore. That's something we'll take home with us."
Antonio reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "You've always been someone who carried places with you."
"And people," she added softly.
—————Departure Morning—————
We flew out from Pokhara Airport as sunlight painted the peaks one last time.
As the plane ascended, Eliot leaned toward me, whispering, "What's your next wish?"
I smiled and looked at Selene and Antonio—her head on his shoulder, their fingers entwined.
"Not a wish," I said. "Just a hope… that this never fades."