She was gone, and he realised too late that she had been his one true love.
Oliver sat in his car, staring at the entrance of the restaurant. His hands were shaking, but he barely noticed. A dull ringing filled his earsproof of how tense he was. Tonight was the school reunion. Twenty years since theyd left secondary school. Twenty years since hed destroyed what could have been his happiness.
Back then, hed suspected Emily of cheating. A photo with some “new admirer,” as hed believed, had twisted his stomach into knots. She hadnt defended herself. Just stayed silent. Hed shouted, accused her, spewed every bitter thought hed kept inside. And shed left. No shouting. No explanations.
Six months later, hed married Charlotte. Out of spite. To prove to Emily he could be happy without her. But happiness never came. The marriage was flat, strained like a tightrope. Everything looked rightthe wife, the child, the job. But his heart stayed numb.
And tonight, hed see her again. Emily. The only one. The one hed truly loved.
He stepped into the room and felt her before he saw her. Not her face firsther presence. Her energy, her quiet laugh. She was still magnetic: a floral dress, curls over her shoulders, that same steady gaze. And just like that, everything tilted again. Like before.
“Emily” he called out as she stepped away to answer her phone.
“Yes, Oliver?” Her voice was calm, almost amused.
“I want to know everything. How youve been without me?”
“Are you sure you want to hear it?” No pain in her tone, just a deep, weary exhaustion.
“I cant live without you. Without us…”
“There *is* no *us*, Oliver. Not anymore.”
“What about our child?” he blurted.
She paled. Closed her eyes. Then spoke, low and firm.
“You mean the baby I lost after your accusations? The one I couldnt keep because I was crying too much? Yes, I was pregnant. But you said it wasnt yours. You believed that photo. You didnt believe me. Or your own heart. You believed Charlotte.”
He dropped his head. Hed destroyed everything that day.
“I survived, Oliver. Broken, burnt. But I survived. I left. Started over. A man helped meone who saw *me*. Not my mistakes, not my fault, not my past. Now we have two adopted kids. Theyve been mine from day one. And Im happy.”
“Forgive me…”
“Why? For destroying me? I forgave you. It took me longer to forgive myself. But Im not the girl you knew. I dont belong to you anymore. You realised too late what you lost.”
She turned and walked away. Light steps, back straight, full of certaintyall the things he hadnt known how to protect.
And he stood there, frozen in the hum of passing cars, his heart in pieces, with one certainty: you cant go back. Sometimes, its just too late. And even if youve carried her in your heart your whole life to her, youre nobody now.
