No Regrets
They sat on the riverbank, watching ducks snatch pieces of bread tossed by children. The exams were over, and two months of freedom stretched ahead—no lectures, no tedious assignments.
“What are your plans?” the young man asked, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water.
“Sleeping in, reading, walking,” the girl replied smoothly, as if reciting a well-rehearsed script. “What about you? Going home?” Her voice faltered, her eyes clouding with worry.
“Nah. You know, I’ve always dreamed of the sea. Imagine—never seen it. My schoolmates used to come back tanned, bragging about shells and dolphins, while I… My parents never had the money. And after Mum died, the sea was the last thing on my mind.”
“We used to go to Brighton every summer when Dad was still with us,” she murmured, her eyes drifting to the distance as if chasing the past. “Wait—do you even have the money now?”
“No, but I could borrow some.”
“From who? Half our mates are already on their way home, and the rest are celebrating with what’s left of their grants. And how would you even pay it back?” Emily shot a disapproving glance at Daniel’s sharp profile.
“Just enough for food and train tickets. It’s warm there—‘For under every bush, a table and a bed.’” He quoted the old saying with a grin. “We can find a cheap room. I’ll work it off. Just need time.”
“How do you know? In peak season, you won’t find anything affordable. Don’t kid yourself. A spot under a tree’ll cost as much as a hotel. And how does that saying end?” she chided.
“You’re such a… spoilsport. What if I get the money? Will you come?” He turned to her, catching her hesitant expression.
“Doubt it. Mum would never let me,” Emily admitted.
Just then, a duck flapped its wings, scattering the others. They both watched as it snatched a few midair crumbs before gliding away, content.
“Hang on.” Daniel dug his phone from his jeans and dialed. “Tom? Yeah, passed… Doesn’t matter—point is, it’s done. Listen, can you lend me a hundred quid? No? What’ve you got? That’s it? Fine, I’ll swing by tonight. Right, sorted. Coming?” He pocketed the phone.
“Are you serious? All the trains are booked till autumn,” Emily scoffed.
“We’ll hitchhike, take detours. Or just admit you’re scared,” he teased.
“I’m not scared,” she fired back. “It’s just… Mum won’t allow it.”
“Are you mad? Going off with a boy? To the coast? You know what people will think? Absolutely not,” her mother snapped, shaking her head for emphasis.
“Mum, I’m grown up. Don’t make me sneak out.” Emily’s voice wavered, tears welling.
“What are you saying? Run off? For who?”
“I love him, Mum,” she whispered, the words tumbling out.
“Darling, you’ve got your whole life ahead. Why rush? Finish uni, marry, then go.” Her mother sighed, worn out.
Emily sniffled.
“You won’t be swayed, will you? I don’t want us parting as enemies. Go—but promise you’ll call if anything goes wrong.”
“I promise.” Emily hugged her tightly. “I’ll go pack?” She pulled back, searching her mother’s face for any sign of jest. “We leave at dawn.”
“How? I thought I’d at least meet him—”
“He’ll come by tomorrow. You’ll see. He’s decent.” Emily hurried off to her room.
Her mother shook her head, trudging to the kitchen, torn between fear and doubt. She cursed her absent husband, wishing he were there to rein in their daughter. But holding her back by force? Maybe she was overreacting. The clatter of dishes echoed her unease.
At dawn, a brief knock sounded. Emily was in the shower. Her mother hesitated, then opened the door to a handsome young man with a rucksack.
“Hello. I’m Daniel.” His smile was warm, disarming.
Stunned from sleepless nights, she barely registered his words.
“I’m ready!” Emily emerged, toothbrush in hand.
Her mother blinked, inviting him in.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be careful,” Daniel assured her.
Before she could reply, Emily dragged him off to her room. Minutes later, they returned, his shoulder bearing her bag.
“Time to go. I’ll call.” Emily kissed her bewildered mother’s cheek.
“Breakfast?”
“We’ll take sandwiches if that’s alright,” Daniel said politely.
Her mother rushed to the kitchen, returning with a bag of food.
The door closed behind them. She understood—how could anyone not fall for him?
“Where to?” Emily asked outside. “Mum liked you.”
“Good. The station.”
Two days of hitchhiking and sweltering waits. But when the sea appeared, exhaustion vanished. They dashed to the water, shedding shoes and bags, laughing as waves soaked them.
Days were spent swimming, sunbathing, wandering. Nights were for stargazing on the cool sand, avoiding their cramped, stifling room.
By the second week, the magic faded. Constant togetherness bred irritation. They bickered, nitpicked.
Yet at the station, all was forgiven. Daniel was heading further north to his father’s. Emily clung to him, sobbing.
“Em, time’ll fly. I’ll call every day.”
She insisted she couldn’t live without him.
“Listen. I can’t move in with you and mooch off your mum. We’ve no money for a flat. Hang in there, love.”
At home, Emily wandered her room, reacquainting herself with familiar things. She stuffed laundry in the machine, soaked in the bath, then savored tea at the kitchen table. Life felt peaceful again.
“Emily! Look at your tan!” Her mother searched her eyes for hidden distress. “You’ve changed—grown up.”
“Just tired. It was good, Mum.” She forced a smile.
Her mother lay awake that night. Her daughter was home, safe—but those sad eyes. “Missing Daniel,” she decided. “At least she’s back.”
Daniel called, but his replies were curt. He was working to repay debts.
He returned late, gaunt, missing the first week of term.
“Finally! I thought you’d vanished,” Emily said after lectures.
“Stayed to work the full month. Brought you this.” He handed her a velvet box.
Her breath hitched. Inside were stud earrings with sea-blue stones—not the ring she’d hoped for.
“You don’t like them?”
“No, they’re lovely. Just… unexpected.” She kissed his chin. “I’ve got news too. Not as nice. I’m pregnant.”
Daniel stared. “Weren’t you on the pill?”
His tone was flat. She shivered.
“Yes, but… I don’t know how—”
“Em, we can’t have a kid now. I’d drop out, but med school doesn’t do part-time. I promised my mum I’d graduate. We need to wait.”
She looked down.
“We’re broke, with no home. I could work nights, but I’d burn out. You’d be exhausted. Your mum can’t babysit. We can’t afford childcare. What kind of doctors would we be after that?”
She hadn’t wanted a child either. But she’d hoped for joy from him, however brief.
Her eyes were dry when she met his gaze. “You’re right. It’s okay.”
That evening, she told her mother, craving the comfort Daniel hadn’t given. They cried together, and her mother promised to arrange things discreetly. Lying awake, she blamed herself. “If I’d stopped her… But would it have mattered?”
Things soured between them. Emily still loved Daniel but avoided being alone with him. He grew frustrated.
“We agreed to wait till graduation. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Yes, but I miss you. Feels like you’re avoiding me. Do you still love me?”
She had no answer.
***
Years later, Dr. Emily Carter sat in the office, finishing discharge forms.
“Dr. Carter, the father of that motorbike crash victim is asking for you,” Nurse Collins said.
Emily stepped into the ward. A man sat by the bed, his back to her.
“Hello, I’m the attending physician—” She froze as he turned.
Greyer, older, but unmistakable.
“Emily?” Daniel stood.
“Your son?” She gestured to the young man with the IV drip. Of course—the surname wasn’t uncommon.
“How is he? What’s the prognosis?”
Her composure wavered under his gaze. She still loved him. But she steeled herself.
“Complex fractures, but we’veShe turned and walked away, leaving the past where it belonged, knowing some stories were never meant to have different endings.
