Beyond the game

The morning sunlight filtered through the glass windows of Yuzarsif's penthouse, illuminating the perfectly arranged space—modern, sophisticated, yet lifeless.

He sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his temples. Another sleepless night.

Six years.

Six years had passed since Azra vanished from his life without a trace.

Six years of searching.

Six years of torment.

Six years of waking up with the same emptiness in his heart.

He had tried everything. Hired private investigators, searched public records, even visited cities where he thought she might be. But she had disappeared completely, leaving behind nothing but the memories that haunted him.

Yet, he refused to give up.

Somewhere out there, she was living her life—without him.

And it killed him every single day.

---

An Endless Search

Yuzarsif sat in his office, flipping through the latest report from the detective he had hired.

"No new leads."

"No records of travel under her name."

"No known addresses matching her details."

He exhaled sharply, gripping the papers before tossing them aside. The frustration was suffocating.

His assistant, Kareem, hesitated at the door. "Sir, would you like me to schedule another round of inquiries?"

Yuzarsif shook his head. "No need. It's pointless."

But was it?

He had told himself that a thousand times, yet he still couldn't stop searching.

Even after all these years.

Even after everyone told him to move on.

Because how could he?

She wasn't just another woman. She was his Azra.

---

An Unwelcome Guest

Later that evening, as he sat in his office reviewing work files, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor made him sigh.

"Asna."

The name left his lips with little enthusiasm as she waltzed into his office, wearing her usual confident smile.

She was beautiful, undeniably so. With her perfectly styled hair, flawless complexion, and expensive perfume, she had the kind of presence that turned heads.

But to Yuzarsif, she was nothing more than a childhood friend who refused to take a hint.

"Don't look so annoyed," she teased, setting down a small gift box on his desk. "I brought you something."

"I don't need anything," he replied flatly, barely looking up.

Asna sighed dramatically. "Yuzarsif, you've been living like a ghost for six years. You bury yourself in work, push everyone away, and refuse to let yourself be happy. It's time to move on."

He finally looked up, his expression cold. "Move on?"

"Yes!" she said, exasperated. "How long are you going to keep chasing a woman who clearly doesn't want to be found?"

Yuzarsif clenched his jaw, his patience thinning. "You don't know what we had."

"You had a relationship that ended with her leaving you," Asna pointed out. "And you still refuse to accept that she doesn't want to be found."

His fists tightened at her words. He didn't want to hear them. He didn't want to believe them.

But deep down, a small part of him wondered—Was she hiding on purpose?

Asna softened her voice. "I'm here, Yuzarsif. I always have been. Let me help you move forward."

"You don't understand," he said, standing up abruptly. "Azra is the only one I will ever love."

Her smile wavered, and for the first time, she looked genuinely hurt. But she quickly masked it with a smirk. "Fine. But don't expect me to give up on you."

With that, she turned and walked out, leaving the unopened gift behind.

Yuzarsif didn't even glance at it.

---

A Life Without Her

The days blurred into weeks, the weeks into months.

Yuzarsif threw himself into work, expanding his businesses, securing deals, making more money than he knew what to do with.

But none of it mattered.

At the end of the day, when the city lights dimmed and silence filled his penthouse, all he had were memories.

Memories of her.

Of her laughter, her warmth, the way she had made life feel whole.

He sat in his office late at night, staring at an old photograph of them together. It had been taken when they were still happy—before the lies, before the betrayal, before she disappeared.

His fingers traced the image of her smile.

"Where are you, Azra?" he whispered.

But there was no answer.

There never was.

---