She was gone, and he realized too late that she had been his only true love.
William sat in his car, staring at the restaurant entrance. His hands trembled, though he hardly noticed. A dull ringing filled his ears, proof of his tension. Tonight was the school reuniontwenty years since theyd left sixth form. Twenty years since hed destroyed what could have been the love of his life.
Back then, hed suspected Emily of cheating. A photo with what hed believed was “another suitor” had turned his stomach. She hadnt defended herself. Just silence. Hed shouted, accused her, poured out every bitter thought hed kept inside. And she had leftno fight, no explanation.
Six months later, he married Sophie. Out of spite. To prove to Emily he could be happy without her. But happiness never came. The marriage was hollow, stretched thin like a frayed rope. Everything was in placethe wife, the child, the job. Yet his heart stayed silent.
And tonight, he would see her again. Emily. The only one. The woman hed truly loved.
He stepped inside and felt her presence before he saw her. Her energy, her soft laugh. She was still radianta floral dress, curls over her shoulders, that same steady gaze. And just like that, everything tilted. Like before.
“Emily” he called when she stepped outside to take a call.
“Yes, William?” Her voice was calm, almost amused.
“I need to know. How did you live without me?”
“Are you sure you want to hear it?” No pain in her tone, just deep exhaustion.
“I cant live without you. Without us”
“There *is* no us, William. Not anymore.”
“And our child?” The words tumbled out.
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. Not me. Not your own heart. You believed Sophie.”
His head dropped. He had destroyed everything that day.
“I survived, William. Broken, burned. But I survived. I left. Started over. A man helped meone who saw *me*, just me. Not my mistakes, not my past. And now, we have two adopted children. Theyve been mine from the first day. And Im happy.”
“Forgive me”
“Why? For destroying me? I forgave you. Myselfthat took longer. But Im not the woman you knew anymore. Im not yours. You realised too late what you lost.”
She turned and walked away, light on her feet, shoulders straighteverything he hadnt known how to protect.
And he stood there, motionless in the hum of passing cars, his heart in pieces, with one certainty: some things cant be undone. Sometimes, its just too late. And even if youve carried her in your heart all your life to her, youre no one at all.
The lesson was clear: trust love while you still have it, or regret will be your only companion.
