I turned back toward the river.
The sun was sinking beyond the horizon, washing the water in shades of orange and crimson.
I could no longer make out the colors clearly.
All I could feel was the fading warmth of the sunlight against my face.
"You should go," I said. "The wedding is off. There won't be any wedding photos. I can see the ocean on my own."
I paused before adding, "And you don't have to make anything up to me. I don't want anything from you anymore."
Yari stood frozen behind me.
The wind stirred the banyan leaves overhead, filling the silence with a soft rustling.
After a long while, I heard him draw in a shaky breath.
When he finally spoke, his voice cracked with the effort of holding back tears.
"Then... can I come see you once a week? I promise I won't bother you."
