I wanted to appear again — successful, stylish, to make her regret.
To make her understand that losing me was the biggest mistake of her life.
On Saturday afternoon, I stood in front of the gate of the elementary school where my son — Noah, now eight years old — was studying.
My heart fluttered when I saw him with a backpack, running happily out.
He didn’t recognize me.
I approached and started a conversation:
“You’re my dad’s friend, when I was little you used to carry me around.”
Noah smiled innocently.
I bought him ice cream and asked about his studies.
He said:
“My mom often works extra hours at night, but she loves me very much.”
My heart sank.
That evening, I called Sophie.
Her number was the same.
When I said, “I’m Ethan,” there was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds.
“Are you… back?”
“Yeah.
Can we meet?”
We met at an old cafe near the beach, where we used to hang out during our college days.
Sophie arrived, thinner and paler than before, without makeup or jewelry.
But her eyes were still the same — gentle, deep, and sad.
“You’ve changed a lot.”
“Me too.”
We talked like two strangers.
I saw a bit of regret in her eyes.
I thought: “The plan is working.
The next few days, I took the initiative to pick up Noah.
At first Sophie objected, but I said I just wanted to be near her.
She reluctantly agreed.
I bought toys, told stories, took her to the park.
One time, Noah said:
“Daddy, mommy cries a lot alone, but she says it’s okay.”
I paused.
A month later, I invited Sophie to dinner.
I planned to show off my achievements, then turn around and leave so she could regret it.
But when I saw her walk in in a simple old dress, her eyes warm,
all the harsh words I had prepared… disappeared.
Instead of insulting, I just asked:
“Are you okay living like this?”
She smiled softly:
“It’s not okay. But I accept it.
I was wrong, and I’m paying the price.”
Those words were like a knife piercing my heart.
A week later, I went to her house to pick up my child.
That day, Sophie invited me to stay for dinner.
The house was still small, but cozy and clean.
On the table were a few simple dishes — fried eggs, squash soup, tofu with tomato sauce —
but to me, it was the best meal in years.
While we were watching a movie, Noah asked:
“Dad, did Mom and Dad break up because Mom was ugly?”
I was stunned.
Sophie came out of the kitchen, heard, and smiled sadly:
“Maybe… it’s time to tell the truth.”
She looked at me:
“Do you remember when I said I loved someone else?”
“I remember.
How could I forget.”
“You lied. There was no one.”
I was stunned.
“Why did you lie?”
Sophie took a deep breath:
“That’s when I found out I had early-stage thyroid cancer.
The doctor said it could be cured, but not sure.
I’m afraid I’ll become a burden.
I know if I tell the truth, you won’t leave me.
But I don’t want you to spend your whole life with someone who can leave at any time.”
She choked up.
“I thought saying I betrayed you would make it easier for you to let go.
I didn’t expect… it would hurt you so much.”
I stood up, my heart breaking:
“Why didn’t you tell me?
You think I need fame more than my wife and children?”
Sophie was silent.
Tears rolled down her thin hands.
I wandered all night along the beach.
The wind blew cold.
I remembered everything: the nights she couldn’t sleep, the times she coughed, saying it was allergies…
It turned out to be the radiation.
She never betrayed me.
The betrayer was me –
the one who believed the easiest scenario: that she had changed her mind.
And she, fighting her illness, raising her child, enduring loneliness for five years,
while I was busy with revenge and seeing myself as a victim.
I collapsed right there on the beach.
The next morning, I picked Noah up from school.
He ran out, hugged me, and smiled innocently.
In that moment, I saw his eyes –
eyes that were exactly like his mother’s:
warm, patient, and loving without conditions.
I held him tight, and for the first time in years, I said honestly:
“I’m sorry… for making you and Mom suffer.”
Now, I still don’t know what the future holds –
whether Sophie and I can make it work.
But I know one thing:
Some wounds don’t come from betrayal,
but from things we don’t ask, things we just assume are right.
And there are “traitors” in our imagination,
who are actually the ones who loved us the most.
“Sometimes revenge doesn’t bring relief.
Forgiveness – even if it comes late – is the only way to be free.
