Faith and Oliver were a happy couple. They lived like any other married pair, building a life together one day at a time.
Oliver had met Faith back in college. At the time, she was working as a student assistant in the science department, and Oliver was taking a lab course there. When Faith first walked out in her white lab coat, he was absolutely star-struck; it was love at first sight. As soon as class let out, he tracked her down and asked her out for coffee.
They got to know each other over their drinks, and Oliver eventually worked up the nerve to ask if she wanted to start seeing him. But Faith had to turn him down. She was already dating a guy from her own major. Oliver was crushed. He was so head-over-heels for Faith that he spent months looking for other girls who reminded him of her, but he never found anyone. Faith was one of a kind.
A few years later, after Oliver had started his career, he decided to stop by the same cafe where he had first asked Faith out. Every table was taken except for one seat next to a woman with curly hair.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken? Do you mind if I sit here?"
"No, go ahead. I'm actually leaving soon."
The voice hit Oliver like a bolt of lightning. He knew that sound. And as she looked up, he realized those curly hair belonged to the woman he had never stopped looking for.
"Faith?"
"Do I know you?"
"It's Oliver! Do you remember me? From the science department? You were the lab assistant."
"Oliver! I don't believe it! It's been forever."
The old acquaintances began to catch up on everything they'd missed. Faith told him that she had broken up with that boyfriend right after graduation. She'd realized he wasn't the person she thought he was, and she admitted that if she had known how things would turn out, she would have said yes to Oliver back then.
She was currently working as a lab technician, helping professors run chemistry experiments. Oliver told her about his life, too—how he was working as a paramedic on an ambulance crew, spending his shifts racing across the city to save lives.
As they talked, the old spark inside Oliver flared back into a flame. When Faith got up to leave, he stopped her and asked if she'd like to go out sometime. This time, Faith said yes. They started dating—real dates this time, holding hands, sitting in the back row of movie theaters, and falling fast.
Within three months, Oliver knew he wanted Faith to be his wife. During one of their nights out, he got down on one knee. Faith was stunned, but she had grown to love Oliver deeply, and there was no way she could say no. She gave him a firm, confident "Yes!" and soon they were husband and wife.
But one day, a very difficult conversation was waiting for Oliver. He came home late from a long shift to find a suitcase sitting in the hallway.
"What's this?" he asked. "Did you pack for a vacation already?"
"No, Oliver. I'm leaving."
"What?"
"I've been seeing someone else for two months, and you didn't even have a clue. I'm moving in with a man who actually has time for me."
"You know I'm doing my best. This job..."
"That's exactly the problem. You're always out on calls. Always working. And it's not like we're getting rich off it."
"And so you cheated on me?"
"Yes. I'll be filing for divorce soon. Goodbye, Oliver."
Faith had started an affair with one of the chemistry professors. It began as harmless flirting, but eventually, Faith broke down and told him all about her husband—how much he worked and how little they had to show for it.
"Faith, honey, he doesn't deserve you," Dr. Sterling had told her. "You're so young, you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't waste your time on him."
Eventually, Dr. Sterling suggested they move in together. They had been meeting in secret for months, but when Faith realized her husband hadn't even noticed the distance, she snapped and decided to make the move official.
Faith threw on her jacket, grabbed her suitcase, and slammed the door, leaving Oliver standing there in total shock. He wasn't much of a drinker, so instead of hitting the bar, he took a few personal days and headed out to the countryside to stay with his parents.
***
Later the next evening, Oliver decided to take a walk through the small town. It brought back so many childhood memories—playing football with the local kids, hauling water for neighbors, helping old Mrs. Miller plant potatoes in her garden. That had been his youth. Now he was a grown man, a paramedic saving lives.
He was about to head back to the house when he saw a figure in the distance that reminded him of his first love. But wait—it wasn't just a resemblance. It was actually her. How could he ever forget his first love?
Daisy was still slim and blue-eyed, though she had changed her hair. Oliver remembered her as a blonde, but now she had long, chestnut-brown hair.
"Daisy!" Oliver called out.
The young woman turned around and looked at him with confusion. Thinking she didn't recognize him, he ran over.
"It's Oliver! Oliver Miller. We went to school together until seventh grade, right before you moved away to the city."
"Really? I'm so sorry, but I don't quite remember..."
"What if I told you I'm the boy who got caught picking flowers from your mom's prize garden for you?"
Daisy paused, searching her memory.
"Oliver! Of course! I knew I'd heard your name recently. You did your medical rotations out here, didn't you?" He nodded. "I heard the local ladies talking about it. Are you still working as a paramedic?"
"I am. How have you been? Let me walk you home, we have a lot to catch up on."
Daisy explained that her family had moved because of her father's job; he'd been offered a management position in the city. Daisy eventually had a younger sister, too.
But tragedy had struck. During Daisy's sophomore year of college, her parents were killed in a car accident. Daisy had to become the legal guardian for her little sister to keep her out of the foster system.
She had to drop out of school, and they eventually moved back to the small town because they couldn't afford the rent in the city. Now, Daisy worked as a waitress in town while the neighbors helped look after her sister.
"Do you want to come in for some tea?"
Oliver happily agreed. Over tea, they reminisced about their school days and old classmates. Finally, Oliver couldn't hold it back anymore and told Daisy everything about his wife and the divorce. As he got up to leave, he couldn't help himself and kissed her. Daisy pulled back for a second, but then an invisible force seemed to pull them together. Oliver ended up staying the night.
"You know, you were my first love," he whispered.
"Really?"
"Yeah. The second I saw you back then, I was a goner. By the way, where's your sister?"
"She's staying with the Robinsons tonight. Their granddaughter, Sophie, is visiting, so they're playing together. There aren't many kids left around here, mostly just grandkids visiting for the summer. Polly was desperate for some company."
Oliver then suggested that Daisy move back to the city with him. He was getting a divorce anyway, and the apartment was entirely his. Daisy was overjoyed; it would be so much closer to better job opportunities. She decided not to tell Polly just yet—she wanted to move their things first and then break the news.
***
Oliver and Daisy arrived at the apartment a few days later, but a surprise was waiting for them. Oliver's wife stepped out into the hallway. As it turned out, Dr. Sterling hadn't wanted a serious relationship at all. He was actually married himself, and Faith had just been a distraction. When she had called him all excited about moving in, he made it clear it was over and told her to go back to her husband.
"Ollie, thank God you're home..."
"Faith?"
"And who is this? So this is how you spend your weekends while I'm out trying to provide for this family?"
"What are you talking about? You said you were filing for divorce."
"You brought a mistress into our home! Get out! Get out right now!"
"Don't listen to her, Daisy."
"Oliver, did you lie to me? Are you still with her?"
"Of course he's with me, sweetie. I'm his wife!"
Daisy burst into tears and ran out of the apartment. Oliver couldn't catch her because Faith quickly slammed and locked the door.
"What is wrong with you?"
"Ollie!" Faith dropped to her knees. "Please, forgive me. I don't know what came over me. Let's just start over, a clean slate."
"It's over, Faith. I'm divorcing you."
Oliver pushed past her and ran downstairs, but Daisy was nowhere to be found. He called her over and over, but she never picked up.
***
A year went by. Oliver finalized the divorce. Faith moved back in with her mother after her lover cut ties completely. Oliver had tried to reach Daisy countless times, but it was as if she had vanished. Then, one day, Oliver's crew was called to help an elderly woman with high blood pressure.
They arrived in time and, fortunately, the woman was going to be fine. As the crew was packing up to leave, Oliver heard a child crying nearby.
"Guys, wait a sec. There's a kid crying over there." Oliver ran toward a little girl. "What happened, honey?"
"I fell off the swing. My arm hurts really bad."
Oliver checked the girl over. "Where are your parents?"
"I don't have parents. My big sister takes care of me."
"And where is your—"
But then Oliver heard a very familiar voice.
"Polly! What happened? Are you..."
Daisy dropped her grocery bags the moment she saw Oliver. He calmly explained what had happened. Polly admitted she had slipped away from Daisy while she was in the store just to get five minutes on the swings.
"It might be a fracture. I'll take her to the ER. I know the staff there, so we can get her seen right away."
"Okay. Just give me the address, I need to go grab her insurance papers."
Oliver took Polly to the hospital and called a friend on staff who saw her immediately. They put a cast on her arm and gave them the discharge instructions. Daisy arrived just as they were finishing up.
"Thank you, Oliver. For everything. We'll get out of your way now."
"Daisy, wait. Please. Everything that happened back then... it was a disaster, but it wasn't what you thought. She really had left me. Her boyfriend just kicked her out and she came crawling back. But you're the only one I love."
"Oliver, it's been a year and..."
"I'm divorced. It's over. There's nothing left between us. Please, forgive me."
But there was no need for apologies. Daisy threw her arms around Oliver, crying and holding him as tight as she could. She had never stopped loving him, and she had missed him every single day.
***
Another year passed. Oliver and Daisy had a beautiful wedding. They now have a wonderful son named Michael. Daisy finished a culinary certification and now runs a successful business selling custom desserts.
No one hears much from Faith anymore. Maybe she changed her ways and found her own path. But one thing is for certain: the Millers are the happiest family in town.
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