After Gul left, the days at the bakery
After Gul left, the days at the bakery felt much the same—the warmth from the oven, the aroma of fresh bread, and the snow falling quietly outside the window. But one thing had changed—Ehsan seemed to grow a little lighter every day.
Zoboriya never mentioned that day when Gul had come and gone. She knew that some wounds are not healed by words, but by time and silence. She would often place a hot cup of coffee in front of him and quietly return to her counter, giving him the space to sit with his thoughts.
One evening, the snow was falling softly outside. There were few customers in the bakery. Zoboriya came and sat by the window and said,
“You know, Ehsan… some people come into our lives only to teach us that love doesn’t always mean staying together. Sometimes… love just stays in memories, and that’s where it feels right.”
Ehsan gave a faint smile.
“And some people… come into our lives so we can learn how to laugh again.”
Zoboriya looked at him. “So… which list do I belong to?”
Without thinking, Ehsan said, “The second one… and that spot will always stay reserved, only for you.”
They both laughed—the snow was still falling outside, but inside, the bakery was filled with a warm peace.
From that day on, their friendship became a quiet understanding. No burden of Gul, no expectations—just two people who kept each other’s tea warm in the winter, so life could feel a little easier.
After Gul was gone, the bakery’s atmosphere stayed the same—snow falling outside the window, the oven’s comforting heat, and the smell of coffee made by Zoboriya. But now, the heaviness in Ehsan’s eyes had begun to fade. It was as if he had made a small corner in his heart where Gul’s memories could sit in peace.
One cold morning, Ehsan was sitting at his favorite table as always. Outside, children were building a snowman, their laughter carrying through the frosted glass. Zoboriya came over with a tray—one mug of his strong coffee and another of ginger tea.
“Today you’re drinking this along with your coffee,” she said with a smile.
Ehsan raised an eyebrow. “And this sudden order is because…?”
“Because your nose has already given away the first signs of a cold,” she teased lightly.
Ehsan laughed. “You know… if you weren’t here, I might have even forgotten how to talk to myself like this.”
One afternoon, the bakery was busier than usual. Ehsan stood behind the counter helping—washing cups, fixing chairs—it was all new to him. Zoboriya came close and said softly, “You know, it feels good seeing you like this. There’s no exhaustion in your hands now, just a new habit forming.”
Ehsan picked up a cup and said, “Maybe this habit… is like your friendship—it slowly blends into life, and then the day feels incomplete without it.”
Zoboriya didn’t reply, just smiled faintly and walked away.
In the evening snowfall, they sat by the window. Outside, under the yellow streetlight, snowflakes floated in the air.
“Have you ever thought,” Zoboriya said, “every snowflake is different, but once they touch the ground, they all become one. Maybe people are the same—different with their stories, but in the cold of life, we become each other’s warmth.”
Ehsan nodded slowly. “Maybe… and you are my greatest warmth, Zoboriya.”
After that day, their friendship was filled with countless small moments—laughter, silence, the steam of tea, and the snow falling outside the window. Gul’s memory was still there, but with Zoboriya, Ehsan learned—some bonds are deeper than love, and they don’t need a name.
It was a cold winter evening. Outside, snow was falling steadily, and the street was almost empty. Inside, the oven’s heat filled the air, but there was a faint line of worry on Zoboriya’s forehead. While arranging cups on a tray, Ehsan asked, “What’s wrong? You look worried.”
Zoboriya took a deep breath. “There’s a power outage warning for the city… if the power goes out tonight, all the bakery’s supplies will spoil.”
Without hesitation, Ehsan said, “Then I’ll stay here tonight. I can’t leave you alone.”
She looked at him in surprise. “But there’s a snowstorm coming… your home…?”
“My home?” Ehsan smiled softly. “Zoboriya, ever since I started coming here, this bakery has been my home.”
By night, the wind had grown fierce, snow swirling wildly in the air. Most of the city was already in darkness. But inside the bakery, there was the gentle hum of the generator and the flicker of candlelight. They shut down the ovens, moved supplies to safer spots, and finally, exhausted, sat by the window—hot coffee in their hands, listening to the storm outside.
“You know, Ehsan…” Zoboriya spoke softly, “sometimes the fear isn’t about being alone… it’s about the person you rely on suddenly leaving.”
Ehsan looked into her eyes. “Then hear this—I’m not going anywhere. At least… not until you throw me out of your life.”
She laughed. “And I’m not foolish enough to throw a good friend out of my life.”
The night deepened, the storm raged outside, but inside, the unshakable trust between two friends only grew stronger. That night, Ehsan realized—sometimes the greatest strength in life isn’t love, but the friendship that stands beside you in every storm.
The next morning, the storm had passed. Soft sunlight sparkled over snow-covered streets, and the air carried a strange freshness. Zoboriya opened the bakery door, looking at the narrow paths carved through the snow. The bell above the door rang—Ehsan walked in, camera hanging around his neck.
“I went out early to capture the snow,” he said with a smile, “and I thought, after seeing this beauty, my day would be incomplete without your coffee.”
As Zoboriya switched on the coffee machine, she asked, “Shooting for a magazine today?”
“No,” Ehsan shook his head, “today, just for myself… and maybe for you too.”
The coffee cups were still steaming on the table when the bakery door opened again. An elderly woman walked in, holding an old photo album. She went straight to Ehsan and asked, “Are you Ehsan Arif? The famous photographer?”
Ehsan smiled gently. “Yes, that’s me.”
She opened the album. Inside were faded, old photographs—children playing in the snow, wooden houses from years ago.
“These were taken twenty years ago,” her voice trembled slightly. “One of these children was my daughter. She’s no longer in this world. I want… if possible, for you to give me a new picture of this same place, so that new memories can join the old ones.”
Ehsan studied the photographs closely—his gaze froze. He remembered the place—an old bridge at the edge of the city, now probably buried in snow. Zoboriya had quietly listened, then said softly, “The storm has just cleared, but for your camera and your heart, this is the perfect moment, Ehsan. Come on, I’ll go with you.”
Soon, they were walking through snowy streets towards that old bridge. The sunlight gleamed on the snow, and the air was filled with the kind of silence found only in old stories. Ehsan lifted his camera—one frame… then another… with each click, he wasn’t just capturing a scene, but the comfort a mother’s heart had been longing for.
Zoboriya stood beside him, her eyes filled with pride and peace—as if she knew that Ehsan didn’t just take photographs, he completed people’s unfinished stories.
That evening, when they gave the new photograph to the woman, her eyes were wet, but her smile carried the calm that comes after a storm. Zoboriya looked at Ehsan and said, “See? Your camera doesn’t just capture pictures, it heals hearts.”
Ehsan replied with a quiet laugh, “And your friendship heals mine.”
What Could Happen Next (Future Plot Idea)
Gul unexpectedly returns to the city and visits the bakery.
She sees Ehsan changed — peaceful, healed, smiling again.
Zoboriya feels a silent insecurity but stays mature.
Gul realizes she was once love, but Zoboriya is now home.
Ehsan chooses honesty — not romance, but gratitude.
Story ends with emotional closure, not drama — a mature love triangle healed by understanding.
OR A new twist:
The elderly woman’s daughter was connected to Ehsan’s childhood memory.
He discovers photography was his hidden purpose.
Zoboriya becomes part of his future dream project (a small photo gallery + bakery café).
✅ Lesson of the Story(Moral / Lesson)
Sometimes love leaves, but life does not end.
Healing doesn’t always come from romance —
sometimes it comes quietly, through friendship, patience, and shared silence.
True bonds are not always named.
Some people enter our lives not to stay forever,
but to help us become whole again.
✅ Next Short Part (Mini Continuation – Emotional & Soft)
Next Short Part:
That evening, the bakery was quieter than usual.
Only the ticking clock and the soft hum of the coffee machine filled the space.
Zoboriya wiped the counter slowly while Ehsan arranged the photographs he had taken that morning.
One picture caught her attention —
the old bridge, glowing under fresh snowfall,
and in the corner of the frame… a faint reflection of the two of them.
“You didn’t tell me you captured this one,” she said softly.
Ehsan looked at the photo, then at her.
“Some moments,” he replied,
“are meant to be felt before they’re shared.”
Zoboriya smiled, but her heart beat a little faster.
Outside, the snow fell again —
not to cover the past,
but to make room for something quietly new.
✅ Thank You Message for Readers
Thank You Message:
Thank you for reading this story and sharing these quiet moments with Ehsan and Zoboriya.
If their journey touched your heart even a little, then this story has found its purpose.
Sometimes healing happens softly —
through warmth, friendship, and silent understanding.
Stay close to stories that make you feel.
Until the next chapter… thank you for being here. đ€
All images used on this website are either AI-generated or used for illustrative purposes only.
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