I’m a young, beautiful, and slightly impulsive 24-year-old woman, working as a junior lawyer in a construction company. By a twist of fate, my office neighbor turned out to be a woman of retirement age, a product of the old-school era, tedious but headstrong, and an unmarried spinster.
From time to time, we engage in a “battle for territory.” We clash over political views, and honestly, what could I, a modern young woman, possibly have to talk about with a relic of the past? But one day, I was in a calm, serene mood, open to heartfelt conversations, and my colleague shared the story of her broken heart.
— I was a bit older than you are now, about 27, when I fell head over heels for a guy. He was handsome, and back then, he seemed independent and responsible. It all started so wonderfully… But then he began to disappear often, spent less time with me, and there was this coldness from him that chilled my soul!
— I was a wreck. I was such a fool, chasing after him, and then he up and left me! I don’t know how I survived it…
— I stopped eating, couldn’t sleep, went to work on autopilot, cried my eyes out, and didn’t want to live without him.
— Naturally, everyone at work noticed something was wrong with me. One day, the director called me into his office and said: “You should go on a business trip to New York, work at the exhibition for two weeks. We need someone sharp there.” I tried to refuse, but the director, with his iron will, insisted I go. What could I do?
— I had no strength, my eyes were constantly teary, but work is work. So I went, though without much enthusiasm… While the train rattled along, my mind replayed the sweet moments, meetings, and days spent with my ex. Believe it or not, I even thought about ending it all! I imagined him sobbing when he found out what happened to me, realizing he loved me, that he was wrong, but it would be too late, and he’d suffer. The pain tore my chest apart; I couldn’t find peace, I wanted to run wherever my feet would take me. I didn’t even notice when I arrived at Grand Central Station in New York. I wandered toward the taxi stand, people rushing past—some hurrying to catch a train, others to meet their loved ones—but all caught up in their own lives, paying no attention to me. I felt a profound loneliness deep inside.
— I must give credit where it’s due: as the director promised, the hotel conditions were fantastic. I was unpacking in my room when there was a knock at the door. I opened it, and there stood a man—blue eyes, broad shoulders, tall, like something out of a painting. And his charming smile… it swept me off my feet! Our romance sparked instantly—walks, dinners, dancing until dawn, mind-blowing sex, beautiful words—it was a whirlwind that made me forget I’d ever suffered. It was such a beautiful romance! That man gave me more warmth, tenderness, and care than anyone ever had! Before I left, he held my hand gently and said: “My dear girl, you deserve the very best! Learn to value and love yourself! Don’t you dare cry again or let anyone hurt you!” Those words etched themselves into my heart forever… From then on, I carried them like a promise I couldn’t break. I knew we’d never see each other again, but I realized he was sent to me from above to heal my broken soul, mend my bleeding wounds, and help me find meaning in life again.
— He wrote me such touching letters afterward, but I stopped replying… I wanted it to remain a beautiful story, untainted by the mundane.
— I still keep those letters… And my ex? Oh, sure, once I’d “recovered” from him, he came running back, trying to win me over, but I just looked at him with a condescending smile. How could he ever compare to my “business trip romance”…
I looked at my colleague with entirely new eyes. She turned out to be a sensitive yet resilient woman.
I realized that nothing in life happens without reason: some things are lessons, some are warnings, and some are for our salvation…
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