Whispers of Time

"Do you remember this place?" a gentle voice asked in his mind. He nodded softly, though speaking only to a shadow.

Once, their laughter had filled the air, as if the world belonged to just the two of them. Now, only silence remained, a reminder of time's relentless march.

"We were invincible back then," his smile warmed his heart, as if returning to the first days they met. His fingers traced the worn wooden bench, preserving traces of moments they once shared.

He could almost feel his friend's hand, warm and full of confidence. "I wish you were here," he whispered, though in his heart he knew his friend was always present.

Their friendship had weathered many storms, becoming a light in the darkness. Yet time, with all its indifference, had separated them, leaving an empty space difficult to fill.

"Never forget me," his friend had said, eyes full of unspoken hope. "I promise," he had answered, his heart steadfast in unwavering loyalty.

Years passed, but the bond remained, like a golden thread woven into his soul. He smiled at the memory, his heart a little lighter, his spirit a little brighter.

"Until we meet again," he whispered to the wind, as leaves fell around him. And in that moment, he felt the presence, the shadow of a friendship that never faded, a promise always kept.