Soon after, a middle-aged man entered the room. George introduced him as his personal doctor, William, who kindly examined my injuries.
William inspected the few scrapes on my hands and arms with a gentle touch, his eyes crinkling with a reassuring smile.
“Nothing serious here,” William said finally.
“A few scratches, but you’ll be just fine.”
Relief washed over me.
“Thank you, Doctor,” I said, my voice filled with genuine gratitude.
Turning back to George, I handed him the empty teacup.
“I should probably go now.
I can’t thank you enough for everything,” I murmured, feeling a bit shy.
But George held up a hand, signaling for me to stay.
“Please, Lucy,” he said softly. “It’s been too long since we last saw each other. Stay a bit longer.”
I was taken aback.
“Wait… you know my name?” I asked, my mind racing.
George’s smile widened, and he leaned back, his gaze warm and steady.
“Do you… remember me?” he asked, his tone hopeful yet soft.
I squinted, examining his face. There was something familiar in his eyes, that twinkle I’d once known so well.
“Wait… George? George from high school?”
He chuckled, looking pleased.
“The one and only.
It’s been twenty-eight years since graduation, Lucy, and you’re just as beautiful as ever.”
I laughed, feeling my cheeks flush.
“Oh, stop it! I can’t believe it’s really you. All this time… where did life take you?”
We settled into the comfort of old friends, reminiscing about high school and the silly adventures we’d had.
George remembered everything, it seemed—the way I used to doodle on his notebook, the way we’d sneak out to go to the diner after school, even the time we almost got caught skipping class.
We laughed about the good times, forgetting for a moment all the heavy things in life.
Finally, he looked at me with a serious expression, leaning forward a little.
“So, how has life been for you?” he asked, his tone gentle.
I hesitated, but his kindness made it easy to be honest.
I took a deep breath and told him about my recent struggles—the divorce, how my son wouldn’t speak to me, and how I’d lost my job that very day.
“It’s been… tough,” I admitted, looking down at my hands. “Everything I thought I had just slipped away.”
George reached across and took my hand, his fingers warm and steady.
“I’m so sorry, Lucy. I wish things had been different for you.
I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.”
I shrugged, though my eyes stung a little.
“Sometimes I wish things had gone differently, too. But life… well, it has a way of surprising you, doesn’t it?”
George’s face softened even more. He looked down thoughtfully before meeting my eyes.
“Do you remember our last night after prom?
I told you I loved you,” he said quietly, “and you told me that it wouldn’t work because we’d be moving to different cities.”
The memory rushed back to me, bringing a bittersweet pang. “I remember,” I whispered, looking away for a moment.
“I’ve thought about that night so many times. Wondering what if… what if I had stayed.”
He nodded, his voice quiet but full of something warm and hopeful.
“We can’t change the past, Lucy.
But we have now. We’re here, sitting together, after all these years. Maybe that means something.”
I looked back at him, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a flicker of hope.
“Maybe it does,” I murmured, a small smile finding its way to my face.
We sat there in silence for a moment, the memories of our past filling the space between us.
George squeezed my hand gently, breaking the silence.
“We can’t go back and change those years, Lucy,” he said softly.
“But we’re here now. Maybe we can pick up where we left off?”
I laughed, the sound almost foreign to my ears.
“Are you asking me out after all these years?”
“Maybe I am,” he replied, his grin warm and hopeful.
“How about dinner? Nothing fancy.
Just two old friends catching up.”
The thought brought a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time.
“I’d like that,” I said. “But only if you promise not to run me over again.”
He chuckled.
“Deal. No more near-misses.”
Just a day before, I had felt lost, but now, sitting here with George, I saw a glimpse of the life I thought I’d lost forever.
I never imagined that an accident could turn into such a blessing.
Life really did have a funny way of surprising us, especially when we least expected it.
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