Shattered promises
593 Words
Three Years Later
Time had a cruel way of moving forward, even when broken hearts stayed behind.
Three years had passed since the day the man who promised Ariana forever disappeared without a goodbye.
Three years since she cried herself to sleep, wondering what she had done wrong.
Three years since she stopped believing in love.
Araina Cole was no longer the innocent young woman she used to be.
Life had changed her.
She had learned that promises could be broken, that people could leave without warning, and that sometimes the deepest wounds were the ones no one else could see.
She had buried herself in work, determined never to depend on anyone again.
If love wanted to find her, it was already too late.
She no longer had room for it.
...
Across the city, another life had also changed.
A man stood alone beside the window of a private hospital room, staring at the rain outside.
His face looked older than his years.
His once-bright smile had disappeared.
On the table beside him lay an old photograph.
It was a picture of him and Ariana, taken on the day he promised to love her forever.
He picked it up carefully, his fingers trembling.
I'm sorry," he whispered.
I never wanted to leave you.
The hospital door opened quietly.
Mr. Ethan," the doctor said gently, Your latest test results are ready.
He nodded without looking away from the photograph.
And?
The treatment worked.
He closed his eyes.
After years of painful surgeries, endless medication, and countless nights wondering if he would survive, the battle that had stolen everything from him was finally over.
You've beaten it," the doctor continued with a smile.
You have another chance at life.
Instead of smiling, Michael lowered his head.
What good is another chance...
..If I lost the only person I wanted to spend it with?
The doctor said nothing.
Some regret having no medicine.
...
Meanwhile, Ariana was leaving work when she noticed an elderly woman struggling to carry several shopping bags.
Without hesitation, she walked over.
Let me help you.
The woman smiled warmly.
Thank you, dear.
As they walked together, the woman looked closely at Araina.
You remind me of someone.
Ariana laughed softly.
I get that a lot.
No...
The woman frowned thoughtfully.
"You remind me of a young man who used to visit my son in the hospital years ago.
Hospital.
The word made Ariana pause.
He carried this same sad look in his eyes.
Before Ariana could ask another question, a black car stopped beside them.
A middle-aged man stepped out.
Mother.
The elderly woman smiled.
There you are.
She turned back to Araina.
Thank you for your kindness.
As the car drove away, the elderly woman looked through the rear window.
Such a kind girl, she murmured.
She would have been perfect for Michael.
The name hit Ariana like lightning.
Michael.
She stopped walking.
Her heart pounded painfully inside her chest.
Had she imagined it?
Or had that woman really said...
Michael?
For the first time in three years, the name she had tried so hard to forget echoed through her mind.
Questions she had buried long ago suddenly returned.
Where had he gone?
Why had he left?
Was he...
Still alive?
Far away, Michael looked at the same old photograph once more.
He had no idea that fate had begun moving the pieces back into place.
e.
And very soon...
Ariana would discover that the man she believed had abandoned her had actually been fighting for his life.
- Writer
