She was gone, and he realized too late that she had been his one true love.
Edward sat in his car, staring at the restaurant entrance. His hands trembled, though he barely noticed. A dull ringing filled his earsproof of the tension gnawing at him. Tonight was the school reunion. Twenty years since theyd left sixth form. Twenty years since hed destroyed what could have been his happiness.
Back then, hed suspected Emily of cheating. A photo with what he thought was a new suitor had turned his stomach. She hadnt defended herself. Just silence. Hed shouted, accused her, spewed every bitter thought hed kept inside. And shed walked away. No shouting. No explanations.
Six months later, he 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 was in placethe wife, the child, the job. But his heart stayed numb.
Tonight, he would see her again. Emily. The only one. The one hed truly loved.
He stepped into the room and felt her instantly. Not sawfelt. Her energy, her light laugh. She was still magnetic: a floral dress, curls brushing her shoulders, that confident gaze. And just like that, everything tipped sideways again. Just like before.
“Emily” he called as she stepped outside to answer her phone.
“Yes, Edward?” 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, weary exhaustion.
“I cant live without you. Without us”
“There is no *us*, Edward. Not anymore. Not for a long time.”
“What about our child?” he blurted suddenly.
She paled. Closed her eyes. Then spoke, low and firm:
“You mean the baby I lost after your accusations? The one I couldnt save 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 Charlotte.”
He dropped his head. Hed destroyed everything that day.
“I survived, Edward. Broken, burnt. But I survived. I left. Started over. A man helped mea man who saw me for just me. Not my mistakes, not my faults, not my past. And now, weve adopted two children. Theyve been mine from the start. And Im happy.”
“Forgive me”
“Why? For breaking me? I forgave you. It took me longer, but I did. But Im not the girl you knew anymore. Im not yours. You realized too late what youd lost.”
She turned and walked away. Light steps, back straight, full of certaintyeverything he hadnt known how to protect.
And he stood there, motionless in the hum of passing cars, his heart in pieces, with one bitter truth: you cant go back. Sometimes, its just too late. Even if youve carried her in your heart all your life to her, youre no one at all.
