She left, and he realized far too late that she had been his only true love.
Antoine sat in his car, staring at the restaurants entrance. His hands shook, though he didnt notice. A low whine throbbed in his ears, a sign of his nerves. Tonight was the reunion of the class of 03, twenty years after they’d left high school, twenty years after he himself had ruined what might have been his happiness.
Back then he had suspected Élodie of cheating. A picture that seemed to show a new suitor turned his stomach. She gave no explanation, remained silent. He shouted, accused, emptied every resentment he had been holding. And she walked awaywithout screams, without answers.
Six months later he married Camille, out of spite, to prove to Élodie that he could be happy without her. Yet joy never arrived. Their marriage felt flat, as taut as a stretched rope. Everything was in place: a wife, a child, a job. Still, his heart stayed mute.
And that evening he was about to see her againÉlodie, the one he had truly loved.
He stepped into the hall and sensed her immediately. He didnt see her firsthe felt her. Her energy, her light laugh. She was still captivating: a floral dress, curls framing her shoulders, that confident gaze. In an instant everything tipped over again, just like before.
Élodie he called as she stepped aside to answer a phone.
Yes, Antoine? Her voice was calm, almost mocking.
I need to know everything. How did you live without me?
Are you sure you want to hear it? No pain crept into her tone, only a deep weariness, worn thin.
I cant exist without you. Without us
Theres no longer any *us*, Antoine. Its been that way for a long time.
What about our child? he blurted out suddenly.
She paled, closed her eyes, then spoke, quietly but firmly:
Youre talking about the baby I lost after your accusations? The one I couldnt save because I cried too much? Yes, I was pregnant. But you claimed it wasnt yours. You believed that photo. Not me. Not your heart. You believed Camille.
He lowered his head. He had shattered everything that day.
I survived, Antoine. Broken, burned, but I survived. I left. I started over. A man helped mesomeone who saw just me, not my mistakes, not my fault, not my past. Today we have two adopted children. Theyve been mine since day one. And Im happy.
Im sorry
Why? For destroying me? I forgave you. It took me longer, but now Im no longer the person you knew. Im not yours anymore. You realized too late what you lost.
She turned on her heels and walked away, lightfooted, back straight, brimming with confidenceeverything he had failed to protect before.
He stayed frozen in the quiet of the parking lot, heart in pieces, certain of one thing: you cant go back. Sometimes its simply too late. And even if youve carried her in your heart all your life for her, youre nothing at all.
