A Heart Lost Between the Past and the Present*
874 Words
*Arnold:*
Helen stirred mixed emotions within me.
She had been a part of my life for so many years, and it wasn’t easy to see her recovering in my arms after everything she had been through. I felt a sense of protectiveness toward her, and I was trying to stay by her side because she needed me. But at the same time, I knew I had promised Gloria something bigger than that.
I loved Gloria. I wanted to live with her. But Helen was the light to me, and her eyes followed me everywhere. When she got closer to me, my whole body reacted to her, making me start to hesitate.
Those moments were killing me inside. Every time, I needed strength to remind myself that I couldn’t go back to the past. That I couldn’t betray my promise to Gloria. But my heart wouldn’t stop thinking about the things Helen had, no matter how hard I tried to distance myself from them.
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*Gloria’s Perspective:*
The time we spent together had become less than ever before.
Arnold started forgetting our dates. Every time we planned to go out together, Helen found a way to ruin everything. She clung to him everywhere, even during the moments that should have been just ours.
In the end, it was me who stepped back. I would smile and tell myself that this was just a temporary phase, and that Arnold would come back to me as he was. But he was drifting further away.
Every time I tried to talk to him about our future plans, Helen would come and take her place beside him, making me feel like I was just a shadow in their lives.
I laughed to myself: *"Will she keep getting so close to him like this?"*
But I hid my feelings.
I kept telling myself that I had to be
This morning, Arnold came to me with eyes full of guilt. He apologized, saying that he would make up for the days that had passed. He promised me that we would have a great time together, and we decided to go out on a date that evening.
But, guess what? Just half an hour before our date, Helen showed up. She claimed she wanted to join us to eat ice cream, the same ice cream they used to have together when they were kids. It was just an excuse to tag along. I thought Arnold would refuse, but to my surprise, he agreed enthusiastically.
As we walked out, they were talking and laughing together about the silliest things. They were leaving me behind, and Helen clung to his arm, chatting about their childhood adventures. I stood there, unnoticed, feeling like I no longer mattered. It felt like I had become an afterthought, a shadow in their world. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had become irrelevant in Arnold's life.
Days passed quickly, but there was no sign of change in Arnold’s behavior. It was as if something had shifted in his heart. He no longer spoke to me the way he used to.
Every time I tried to get closer to him, Helen would appear and cling to him even more.
Arnold, now in her presence, was completely different. He laughed more, as if she was the one filling the void. He didn’t care about me being around.
At dinner, he sat next to her, laughing together, exchanging jokes while I sat and watched from a distance.
Helen clung to him as if she was a part of him. Every time Arnold looked at her, his face lit up with a smile as if she meant everything to him.
While I… felt like a ghost passing by them, never even noticed. There was no attention given to me.
Helen would play with his hair, whispering words I couldn’t hear, and I would feel uncomfortable, sitting at the table, trying to hide the pain in my heart.
What happened to Arnold?
Had he really forgotten his promise to me? Had he forgotten my existence altogether? Or had Helen completely stolen his heart and mind?
I could see in his eyes, as he gazed at her, that everything felt natural to him. It was as if I no longer mattered in his life.
He laughed happily with her, while I lost any remaining hope that I still held a place in his heart.
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*Arnold’s Perspective:*
Everything became simple when Helen was by my side.
I enjoyed being with her more than ever. There was something about her presence that made me feel at ease, as if she was all I needed now.
I didn’t think about anything else but being with her, and every moment with her felt better than the one before.
I laughed and felt joy, and she made me happy just by being there. I didn’t need anything else at that moment. No...... Gloria yes Gloria oh i don't even know what to do ......she will be all right am sure.
Every time Helen got closer to me, my heart grew fonder of her, as if I was breathing her in. She was everything to me.
I no longer cared about escaping or thinking about tomorrow.
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end chapter
- Writer
