Such is life: We lost 20 precious years, but our time has come!
My name is Emily Brooks, and I live in the quaint village of Ashford, where Kent hides its charming streets among the rolling countryside. I never could become his favorite—fate never gave us the chance to come together as a couple. And he, my Alex, jumped headfirst into love again and again, giving himself to women who ended up breaking his heart. For twenty years, we circled around each other, but only now, as our youth fades, life has shown mercy on us.
It all started in the tenth grade when Alex joined our class. New, shy, with an open heart, he immediately caught my attention. After seven months, he fell for Lisa, our classmate—lively, clever, with a mischievous smile. She pretended to return his affections, manipulating him like a puppet. She even introduced him to her parents—they were thrilled with the “good boy.” But behind his back, Lisa was involved with the most popular guy in school, David. Alex turned a blind eye to the truth until he caught them together at a party at her house. Even then, he didn’t walk away—instead, he remained her shadow, her cover. Lisa’s parents thought David was a troublemaker and banned her from seeing him, while Alex was their “perfect son-in-law.” He shared her with another and endured it. I, his friend, listened to his excuses, his tears, his pain. This went on for years.
Then there was Natalie—sweet, cheerful, but not ready for a serious life. Alex dreamt of having a family and children, and when she accepted his proposal, he believed it was forever. But on the wedding morning, she vanished—didn’t put on the dress, didn’t step inside the registry office, just disappeared. Alex fell into a pit of despair. I was there—already a colleague, his right-hand at work. I watched as he buried his pain in work, vowing never to fall in love again. But then came Olivia—the life of the party, funny, carefree. Everyone adored her, and she seemed to love everyone back. Alex fell for her wholeheartedly. Later he found out she was expecting a child with someone else. The real father showed up at the birth but denied the child. Alex gave the child his name and raised him as his own. Olivia continued her affairs, and Alex endured it—for the child’s sake, for the love that burned within him. Until she stunned him: she invited him to be the godfather at her wedding to a new man. Alex agreed—stayed to take care of her son, justifying her flightiness.
Next was Mary—demanding like a spoiled princess. She made him take her to fancy restaurants, serve her breakfast in bed, and plan luxurious holidays. For three years, he bent over backward for her until she threw a tantrum on a plane over a one-hour flight delay. Mid-air, she dumped him, yelling that he wasn’t worthy of her. Then there was Julia—jealous to the point of madness. Alex—loyal, devoted—never gave her a reason. But she hated me, his friend. We worked together and were inseparable, like brother and sister. Julia demanded he quit because of me, claiming he talked about me too much at home. Yes, we spent our days together, but there was nothing beyond friendship. I loved him secretly, and he didn’t see it. I had a boyfriend, Michael, who knew my heart belonged to someone else. He accepted it, lived with me, waiting for a miracle. And Alex kept diving into new romances, believing in their sincerity. And so, we drifted apart for ten years.
Ten years later, we bumped into each other at a café in Ashford square. Time stood still. We talked for hours, laughed, reminisced. I never married, and he hadn’t either. In those years, he had endured three more empty relationships, while I parted ways with Michael—he found someone who gave him all of herself. I had been waiting for Alex. “I doubt I’ll find a true love I can spend my life with. Seems I’m not worthy,” he said, staring into his empty cup. And then I couldn’t hold back—I grabbed his hand and kissed him. He pulled back: “What are you doing? Don’t do this out of pity!” Pity? I pitied only myself—for those years of silence. “Alex, can’t you see? I’ve loved you since school!” I blurted out, trembling. He froze. Confessed he loved me too but saw me only as a friend, afraid to ask, afraid to ruin what we had. We lost twenty years due to this blindness.
Now we’ve been together for 22 years. Just the other day, our daughter, Lisa, shared that she’s in love. Her boyfriend is kind, genuine, I can see how he adores her. What did I tell her? “Don’t wait twenty years like we did. Live your love now.” Alex and I missed so much time, but our moment arrived. And I am grateful every day to be by his side—for his kindness, for his heart that spent so long searching for me in the arms of others. Life is cruel, but sometimes it gives a second chance. We seized it—and will never let go.
