She left, and he only realized far too late that she had been his one true love.
She left, and he understood far too late that she was the only one he had ever truly loved.
Antoine sat in his car, staring at the restaurants entrance. His hands shook, though he didnt notice. A low, whistling hum throbbed in his ears, a symptom of his anxiety. Tonight was the reunion of their class. Two decades had passed since theyd left high school. Two decades since hed destroyed what might have been his happiness.
Back then, he had suspected Élodie of cheating. A photograph showing a new suitor, as he believed, turned his stomach. She never gave an explanation. She stayed silent. He shouted, accused, vomited every resentment he had kept inside. And she walked awayno screams, no explanations.
Six months later, he married Camille, out of spite, to prove to Élodie that he could be happy without her. But joy never arrived. Their marriage felt flat, as taut as a tightrope. Everything seemed in place: a wife, a child, a job. Yet his heart stayed mute.
And tonight he would see her again. Élodie. The one he had truly loved.
He entered the hall and felt her immediately. Not that he saw her firsthe sensed her. Her energy, her light laugh. She was still irresistible: a floral dress, curls resting on her shoulders, that confident gaze. In an instant, everything shifted once more, just like before.
Élodie he called when she stepped away to answer a phone.
Yes, Antoine? Her voice was calm, almost teasing.
I want to know everything. How did you live without me?
Are you sure you want to hear it? No pain colored her tone, only a deep weariness, worn thin.
I cant live without you. Without us
Theres no *us* anymore, Antoine. Not for a long time.
And our child? he blurted.
She paled, closed her eyes, then spoke, quietly yet firmly:
Youre talking about the baby I lost after your accusations? The one I couldnt save because I wept too much? Yes, I was pregnant. But you claimed it wasnt yours. You believed that photo. You didnt believe me. You didnt believe your own heart. You believed Camille.
He bowed his head. He had ruined everything that day.
I survived, Antoine. Broken, burned, but I survived. I left. I started over. A man helped me, a man who saw only meno mistakes, no blame, no past. Today we have two adopted children. Theyve been mine from day one. And Im happy.
Forgive me
Why? For having destroyed me? I forgave you. It took me longer. But now Im no longer the woman you knew. Im not yours anymore. You realized too late what you had lost.
She turned on her heels and walked away, her stride light, back straight, brimming with confidenceeverything he had failed to protect before.
He stayed rooted, motionless, amid the quiet of parked cars, his heart shattered, certain of one thing: you cant go back. Sometimes its simply too late. And even if youve carried someone in your heart all your life for her, youre nothing at all.
