The days after the last unreplied message felt heavier than Charles could have imagined. He returned to his daily routine, but there was an emptiness that continued to haunt him. Every morning he wakes up with the same feeling—like a machine that keeps running even though it doesn't know its destination. And every night, he wakes up, brooding, trying to accept an increasingly difficult reality to accept: Erin is no longer in his life, at least not as he used to be.
Work, which was originally an escape from his mind, now feels like a burden. Although he tried to stay focused, many tasks were neglected. Charles no longer had the spirit he had before. When he used to feel proud of his achievements, now he just feels empty.
That day, after the end of working hours, he decided to take a walk in the city park. The park they used to visit together, a place where they talked about everything. He knew it might not be wise. But, for some reason, Charles felt like he needed to go back to that place. Perhaps, just by facing it, he could be a little relieved.
In the park, the atmosphere is quiet, although some people can still be seen strolling around. Charles sat on a bench that had witnessed his and Erin's happiness. He looked around, trying to remember every second they spent here—laughing, talking about the future that now felt so far away.
For a moment, Charles wanted to cry. He wanted to let go of all the feelings that were hidden, but what he felt was the silence that bound him. There is no Erin here. There was no one she could talk to about her feelings. He was just a man trying to collect the pieces of a broken heart.
"Why did you go, Erin?" she murmured softly. "What's wrong with me?"
For a moment, Charles just fell silent, staring blankly ahead. He realized that even though the pain was still there, he couldn't continue to be trapped in regret. He had to move forward, even if it meant leaving behind all the good memories that had ever existed between them.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated, distracting Charles from his thoughts. He saw a message notification from his old friend, Alex.
"Bro, how are you? It's been a long time since I've heard from you. Do you want to go to the gym tomorrow?"
Charles stared at the message for a moment. Old friends, who were often the refuge for the wounded, now felt like a small hope of finding themselves again. He decided to retaliate.
"Okay, tomorrow I have time. Meet at a regular café?"
A few minutes later, Alex replied quickly, and they agreed to meet the next day.
That night, Charles lay in his bed with a slightly calmer mind. He knew that although this feeling of pain would not just go away, he needed to learn to get back up. He needs to rediscover a part of himself that was once full of passion and hope.
The next day, Charles went to the café that was already their favorite place. When he arrived, Alex was already waiting for him at the corner table. With a big smile, Alex greeted her.
"Looks like you need a vacation from everything," Alex said as he handed over the coffee cups that had been served. "You look more tired than usual."
Charles chuckled. "Maybe it's true, I need a break. Life doesn't always go according to plan, does it?"
Alex nodded, then looked at Charles seriously. "I know this is hard for you, bro. But, you can't keep mourning something that has passed. Erin, or whatever it is—sometimes, we just have to step up and accept reality."
Charles stared at the coffee in his hand, waiting for the words to sink in. "I know, Alex. But it is not easy. There's a part of me that still hopes that everything can go back to the way it was."
"Yes, I understand," Alex replied in a soft voice. "But you know, not everything that is lost has to be looked again. Sometimes, we just need to allow ourselves to breathe and move on. Don't let the past get in the way of your future."
That sentence touched the deepest part of Charles' heart. He realized, perhaps this was what he had forgotten—that life wasn't always about looking for answers or explanations. Sometimes, all it takes is courage to step forward and let go of everything that can no longer be returned.
That day, for the first time in months, Charles felt there was a glimmer of hope for his future. Perhaps, not all wounds could heal quickly, but he knew that he couldn't continue to dwell in regret.
He can't change what happened to Erin. But he can change the direction of his life. And that, more than anything else, is the first step toward healing.
Charles sat longer in the café, thinking about every word Alex said. For the first time in a long time, he felt a slight weight lifted off his shoulders. Maybe Alex is right. Perhaps he had been trapped in an irreversible memory for too long, too himself.
As they finished chatting, Alex patted her on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, bro. Life is full of new opportunities. You just have to open your eyes to see it."
Charles smiled faintly, feeling the warmth of his best friend's words. He stood up, took his jacket, and paid for their coffee. "Thank you, Alex. I think I've been tormenting myself with the past for too long."
With a lighter step, Charles left the café and returned to his car. On the way home, he began to think about the little things he enjoyed in his life—such as the rain that started to fall, the smell of coffee still sticking to his clothes, or even the sound of rain falling on the roof of his car. Suddenly, he felt a little more alive.
Perhaps, Charles began to realize that life doesn't have to be all about finding answers. Sometimes, life is about accepting uncertainty and learning to move forward, even if it feels difficult.