One day, the road ends.

The dishes sit untouched in the sink,
The TV hums to no one,
The book remains open,
its final page never turned.

The road ends.
Clothes still hang in the closet,
Sheets neatly folded,
The house in perfect order,
As if time itself paused.

The road ends.
Slippers rest by the door,
A table set for a meal never had,
Cold coffee lingers in a forgotten cup,
A portrait gathers dust,
A to-do list on the fridge left unfinished.

The road—my road—ends.

Yet, the world continues.

Spring will return with new blossoms,
The seasons will change without me,
Departures and arrivals will persist,
Laughter will echo in places I once stood.

There will be new love, new friendships,
New chapters written beyond my story.

Life will move forward,
Even when I no longer walk its path.

So today, as long as breath still fills my lungs,
Let my prayer be this:

If I take nothing with me,
May I leave behind something beautiful—
A memory, a kindness,
A warmth in the hearts of those I’ve met.

That, even when my road ends,
Love remains.

- Hafez