The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, casting long shadows across the sandy beach. You stood at the water's edge, the cold waves lapping at your feet. It was a familiar scene, one you had visited countless times in countless lives.

A heavy sigh escaped your lips as you gazed out at the endless horizon. You had been searching for him for what felt like an eternity. The promise you had made so long ago – to find each other in another life. Life after life, you had wandered the Earth, searching for a familiar face, a pair of eyes that held the same look in his eyes.

And yet, here you were again, standing on the brink of ending it all. The ocean had always been a place of solace, a place where you could lose yourself and forget the pain. But now, it felt like a constant reminder of your failures.

A gentle breeze tousled your hair as you took a step forward, the cool sand beneath your toes. Just as you were about to let go, a hand grasped your wrist. A shiver ran down your spine as you turned to face the stranger.

His silhouette was framed by the hues of the sunset.

The way his eyes seemed to hold the entire universe within them, the gentle curve of his lips filled with a quiet sorrow.

"I've been searching for you for centuries," his voice was trembling. "But now, you're finally here. I'm so sorry for all the time we lost."