The wind outside Sarah's window was cold, and the rain had begun to fall, tapping gently on the glass like the soft whispers of the past. Sarah sat by her desk, a single photograph in her hand, her eyes focused on the image of two young men, smiling, carefree, before everything had gone so wrong. The photo was from years ago, a snapshot of a moment that felt so distant now—a time when life had been simpler, before the weight of heartache had settled into her soul.
She exhaled softly, brushing away the tears that threatened to fall. The ache in her chest had never truly gone away. Even though years had passed, the scars left by Nathan and Lewis were still there, hidden beneath the surface, waiting to resurface at the most unexpected times.
Sarah had tried to move on, to build a life with David, a man who loved her with an intensity that never wavered. David had been patient, understanding, and kind. He had given her the security she needed, the steady love that she hadn't known she could rely on. He was the calm after the storm, the antidote to the chaos Nathan and Lewis had left behind.
Yet, no matter how hard she tried, Sarah couldn't shake the memories of those days—the days when everything had seemed so perfect. She thought of the way Nathan had always been there, quietly supportive, his love for her unspoken but present in every glance, every gesture. She thought of Lewis, with his boldness, his confidence, the way he had made her feel alive in a way that Nathan never could. Both of them had held pieces of her heart, and both had broken it in different ways.
Sarah glanced down at the photo once more, her fingers trembling as they traced the edges of the picture. She could still hear their voices in her mind—the laughter, the arguments, the passion. It was all so real in her memories, as if it had happened only yesterday.
What if things had been different? she wondered, her heart aching with a longing she couldn't quite explain. What if Nathan had told her how he felt? What if he had fought for her instead of retreating into silence? What if Lewis had never come into the picture? Would things have been different? Would they have been happy?
She shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts. The past was gone. There was no way to change it. And now, she had her present—her life with David, the man who had stood by her through it all.
But even now, the past lingered, like a shadow she couldn't quite escape.
---
David had been kind enough to give her space when she needed it, but tonight was different. She had decided to open up to him, to tell him about the part of her heart that still ached, the part that still held onto Nathan and Lewis, even though they were gone in different ways.
"David," she said softly, as they sat together on the couch in their living room. "I've been thinking a lot about... everything. About the past."
He looked at her, his brow furrowing in concern. "You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready."
"I'm ready," she replied, her voice steady. "I've been carrying these memories for so long, and I think it's time I shared them with you."
David nodded, his eyes soft with understanding. He took her hand in his, offering her the warmth of his touch. "I'm here, Sarah. Whatever you need to say, I'm here."
She inhaled deeply, trying to gather the words that had eluded her for so long. "I loved Nathan," she began, her voice quiet but firm. "I loved him in a way that I couldn't understand at the time. But it wasn't the same as how I loved Lewis. With Lewis, it was intense, it was passionate—it was everything I thought I needed. But with Nathan, it was different. It was quiet. It was steady. It was something I thought would always be there, something that never needed to be said because it was understood. And when it all fell apart... when Nathan pushed me away, when Lewis and I became something we shouldn't have been, everything just shattered."
David squeezed her hand, his voice gentle. "I know, Sarah. I know it wasn't easy for you. But I also know that you've found a way to move forward. You're here now, with me."
"I know," she whispered. "But sometimes... sometimes I wonder what might have been if things had gone differently. What if Nathan had fought for me? What if we hadn't let our past mistakes tear us apart?"
David's expression softened, and he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. "What ifs can keep us trapped in the past, Sarah. You can't keep living in a world of what-ifs. The past is gone. You've made your choice, and so have I. We're here now. And that's what matters."
She closed her eyes, resting her head on his chest, the sound of his heartbeat calming the storm in her mind. Maybe he's right, she thought. Maybe I've been holding on to something that can never be.
And yet, as she sat there in his arms, she couldn't help but wonder: What if Nathan had been the one to stay? What if he had never left? Would he have been the one to stand by her now?
But those were just thoughts. Fantasies. She was married to David now, and she loved him. She had to.
---
The next day, Sarah visited the cemetery where Lewis was buried. It had been years since she'd come here, but something inside her told her it was time to finally say goodbye. She stood in front of his grave, her heart heavy with all the things left unsaid.
"I never meant to hurt you, Lewis," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I never wanted any of this to happen. I just wanted us to be happy."
She reached down, placing a single white rose on his grave, the petals soft beneath her fingers.
"I hope you found peace. And I hope, wherever you are, you know that I loved you."
As she turned to leave, she felt a strange sense of closure. It wasn't an ending she had expected, but maybe that was the point. Sometimes, letting go didn't mean forgetting. It meant moving forward, while still honoring the love that had been.
---
Later that night, as she lay beside David, Sarah closed her eyes, finally able to rest. She had let go of the past, and though the love she had for Nathan and Lewis would never completely fade, she was ready to embrace the future. And with David by her side, she hoped she could build something new, something stronger than the ghosts of the past.
But deep down, Sarah knew one thing for sure: some loves were too powerful to ever truly forget.
As things went on between she and David that night they ended up having a hot nice night as a couple.
---