If Not Mine, Then No One’s

“Forget me.” That was the message that stole my breath for a few seconds and opened my eyes even wider when I saw who it was from—from my love, my husband, the man whose story with me had now come to an end. He began to change the moment his closest friend and younger brother died. From that day on, he grew colder with me. He came home late, he started drinking, and little by little he slipped away. My trembling hands dropped the phone to the floor, paralyzed by panic and despair. I asked myself, What on earth is going to happen to me now? Why? Why? Why? Questions that had no answer, no matter how much I searched for one. And yet, somehow, I survived without him. Even though he left me with scars that I still carry, scars that will remain with me forever. Time passed, and with it, I managed to build a successful career and a life without him. Slowly, I even learned to forget. His POV Leaving her with nothing but that message—“Forget me”—destroyed her, but I had no other choice. The path I had chosen was one of no return. Either I would take her with me to die together, or I would let her survive without me while I kept on living. Behind me, I left not only my love, but also my family, my country—the Netherlands—and I came here, to Italy. I left behind heavy footprints, ones that would not easily fade, though time would eventually bury them. That was my purpose. It has been three years now since I vanished from that land, from that soil, and from the hearts of my loved ones. But here, in Italy, I rose. I gained power, courage, and the name “The Greatest.” A name that made people obey me, fear me, and respect me. And yet… even though I am far from her, I still keep her in my heart.