The warm summer evening reflected in the shimmering water of a beautiful lake, where a resort sat nestled along the shore. The site featured cozy small cabins, wooden gazebos, and outdoor tables and benches. The structures and furniture, all crafted from high-quality timber, blended perfectly into the natural landscape without disrupting the view.
The grounds were crowded that evening; music drifted through the air, and bursts of cheerful, carefree laughter rang out here and there. However, most of the guests' attention was focused on a young man named Oliver. He was the one who had gathered all his friends to celebrate his thirtieth birthday.
"Oh my gosh, Oliver, what a brilliant idea to have the party here!" the girls chirped around him. "You're such a genius! This is the best vacation ever!"
"I've wanted to visit this place for a long time," he said with a smile, "and this seemed like the perfect excuse. Well, girls, shall we go for a swim?"
With shrieks and laughter, the group ran toward the water.
Sitting at a table with a cup of tea, Alice watched them with a smile, trying to spot her fiancé, Mark, whom she had come with. She hardly knew anyone there except for the birthday boy—Mark's best friend—his girlfriend, Sarah, and Jade, a striking beauty of mixed European descent. Alice didn't care much for Jade. They had been in the same social circles before, and Alice had gathered that Jade was arrogant, abrasive, and pushy. She seemed like the type who would step over anyone to get what she wanted. Yet, the guys all seemed to like her. Alice had also noticed the way Jade looked at Mark. Even though Mark hadn't given her any reason to worry, it still made Alice feel uneasy. Jade hadn't wanted to swim either; she approached Alice with a glass of wine and sat down.
"Why so gloomy?" Jade asked.
"I'm not gloomy," Alice replied, adjusting her glasses. "Just lost in thought, I guess."
"About what?"
"Nothing specific. Just life."
"Well, fine, keep your secrets. Want me to grab you a glass of wine? It'll cheer you up instantly," Jade persisted, seemingly oblivious to Alice's discomfort.
"No thanks, I don't drink," Alice said, standing up. "Excuse me, I think I'll take a walk. My mood really is a bit off today."
"Suit yourself," Jade said, following Alice with a mocking gaze before turning her eyes back to the lake. She saw Mark.
He was climbing out of the water, shaking droplets from his jet-black hair, and she found herself staring at his athletic frame.
"Lucky Alice," she thought. "Snagging a guy like that... He's gorgeous."
Despite the fact that Jade had grown up getting everything she wanted, she had never been lucky with men. The wealthy, entitled guys she usually hung out with grew tired of her intensity and explosive, difficult personality very quickly. They generally preferred simpler girls. After several failed attempts to secure a marriage proposal, Jade had found nothing but disappointment.
In truth, she didn't even want a family, let alone children. But everyone she knew had managed to find a husband, and at twenty-seven, she was still alone. It stung. She felt like people were laughing at her, and she decided that, no matter what, she would get married soon to secure a new social status. She had met Oliver by chance when she had a flat tire; he was the first person to pull over and help. She liked Oliver well enough and tried to keep him close, but the moment she saw Mark, she changed her mind. She decided this handsome man was the one who should be her husband. The only problem was his girlfriend—that plain, mousy girl in glasses.
"Good grief, what does he see in her?" Jade wondered, already plotting how to tear the couple apart.
Seeing Mark dry off, she stood up, grabbed a towel, and walked toward him.
"Here, dry yourself. So? Is the water cold?"
"No, it's fine. Why didn't you go in?"
"I don't know how to swim. And I have no one to teach me."
"I'll teach you if you want," Mark smiled. "But first, I have to find Alice. She seems to have vanished."
"Why go looking?" Jade smirked, waving her hand in the opposite direction of where Alice had actually gone. "She went into the woods with some guy about half an hour ago. Probably wanted some privacy for a walk."
"What do you mean, with a guy?" Mark turned pale with indignation. "With who?"
"I have no idea," she shrugged. "I don't know everyone here."
Mark didn't ask anything else. He pulled on his shorts and shirt and rushed off in the direction Jade had pointed. He was gone for a long time. It was completely dark by the time he returned to the camp and immediately ran into Alice, who was frantic, wondering where her fiancé had disappeared to.
"Where were you?" he snapped.
"I just took a short walk along the shore, but I came back almost immediately. I didn't want to go far. Where were you? Why did you leave without saying anything? I've been so worried!"
"Do you take me for a fool? Who were you out there messing around with?!"
"Mark," Alice said calmly, "don't speak to me in that tone. I'm telling you, I didn't go far at all, and I was alone. I don't understand this sudden distrust. You know how much I love you. And you know about our baby!"
"I only know that I work like a dog every day to save up for our wedding. And don't talk to me about the baby. I told you to be careful; I explained why it's too early for us to have kids."
"Mark..."
"Whatever! Just be glad I don't want to ruin Oliver's birthday. But we aren't finished talking." Mark turned away from her and hurried toward his friends. Alice went into the cabin where they were supposed to stay, lay down on the bed, and turned toward the wall.
Ever since Mark had found out about her pregnancy, their relationship had soured. Once kind and gentle, he was now prone to being rude and hurtful, seemingly oblivious to how much his words stung. And now this. He was out swimming, she had tried not to bother him, took a short walk, and somehow it was all her fault again.
The cabin door creaked open and Oliver appeared on the threshold. He had clearly come to change clothes and, not noticing Alice, pulled off his wet shirt. She turned and let out a small gasp. Oliver looked at her in confusion, then spoke:
"Oh, sorry! I think I have the wrong cabin. I'll go!" Suddenly he looked closer and asked in surprise, "Wait, are you crying? Did someone hurt you? Just tell me who, and I'll handle it!"
He said it so earnestly that Alice couldn't help but smile.
"No, no, it's nothing, really."
"Well then, come join the party. It's a beautiful night; you shouldn't be sitting here alone. Come on, give me your hand, let's go!"
Oliver leaned toward Alice just as he was knocked breathless by a powerful blow. An enraged Mark had lunged at him, and a fight broke out. Alice screamed, and within minutes, other men burst in to pull them apart. Wiping his bloodied lip, Mark turned to Alice.
"Get in the car. Now. We're leaving! Well, what are you waiting for???"
Alice ran out of the cabin, and five minutes later, they were driving down a backroad, heading back toward the city.
***
Alice was crying, and Mark was barely restraining himself from screaming at her.
It was getting dark very quickly. The road wound through the forest without a single sign or marker in sight, but Mark drove with grim confidence, his insides churning with rage. They had a long way to go—nearly 150 miles—and to blow off steam, he pulled over and got out of the car. The headlights illuminated his figure, but just a few yards away under the canopy of trees, it was pitch black. Alice was suddenly seized by fear. She opened the door and called out to Mark, but he didn't answer. She stepped out to him.
"Mark, let's just go home, I'm scared..."
"Home? You said home? Or maybe I should take you back to your 'friend' Oliver? I think I interrupted something, didn't I?!"
Alice snapped, finally shouting back at him, accusing him of hurting her for no reason.
"Nothing happened between us and nothing ever would! Oliver knows we're together!"
"Well, go back and tell him that's not true anymore!"
Mark shoved Alice away, got into the car, and screeched away, leaving her on the road. Stunned and unable to believe he would actually abandon her like this, Alice tried to run after him. She tripped in a pothole and fell, scraping her knees and elbows on the gravel. During the fall, her glasses slipped off and flew into the darkness. Terrified, she began to feel around for them, but with her poor vision and the absolute gloom, it was nearly impossible. Suddenly, something crunched under her foot. Alice gasped and picked up the crushed frames. She sobbed, and the forest seemed to answer her with a thousand rustling sounds. She went cold with terror as a dry branch snapped under someone's weight nearby.
Meanwhile, Mark drove further and further away, giving no thought to what he had done. Instead, his irritation began to fade, replaced by thoughts of Jade. She had seemed interested, after all. Sure, she was a spoiled rich girl from a wealthy family who probably wouldn't see a guy like him as serious husband material, but even just spending time with her would be a step up for an ordinary manager who had never really made it big.
Two hours later, Mark was home. He showered and went to bed, still dreaming of the beautiful girl from the party. The next day, he called her.
"Mark? Well, that's a surprise... I didn't think you'd call."
"I couldn't stop thinking about you. Can we meet up?"
"Of course. Why even ask?"
That same evening, Mark arranged a romantic dinner for Jade. They ended the night together and fell asleep in each other's arms just before dawn.
A month later, Jade's parents threw a lavish wedding for their daughter. Mark's head spun with success and joy: he had finally caught his lucky break. A carefree, wealthy life with a beautiful wife awaited him.
***
Seven years passed.
Mark's hopes for happiness had crumbled within the first year of marriage. Jade grew bored of him quickly and didn't bother hiding it. No matter how hard he tried, he could never fit into her world of wealth. In social settings, people looked at him with confusion because behind his good looks was an empty void. He couldn't hold a conversation; he had never pursued an education beyond high school and had no interests or desire to learn. He had assumed money would just flow to him simply because he was "special." He soon realized that financial security doesn't always bring joy. He became Jade's shadow, forced to follow her around and cater to her every whim while she mocked and humiliated him in front of her parents and strangers alike. Their relationship finally ended in the fifth year of marriage when Mark came home to find Jade in their bed with another man. She wasn't even flustered; she casually sat up and poured herself a glass of wine.
"What are you looking at?" she asked. "Go ahead, scream, make a scene. Do something for once."
"You're trash," Mark whispered, feeling the floor sway beneath his feet.
"Oh, good!" Jade sneered. "Actual emotion! You're a doormat, a nobody! You aren't a man, and I am bored to death of you. Pack your bags and get out. I'm filing for divorce!"
"Jade," Mark fell to his knees, "please... I'll forgive you!"
"Idiot! I don't need your forgiveness! Get out! Out! Now!"
And Mark left.
For two years now, he had been working as a gas station attendant, living in a small apartment he managed to beg from Jade in exchange for an uncontested divorce. Over the last few years, he had tried many times to find out what happened to Alice, but he had failed. She had vanished. None of their old friends knew where she was, her phone was disconnected, and the people living in her old apartment knew nothing about the previous tenant. He thought often of the child Alice must have had; he knew she would never have given it up. That meant his son or daughter was growing up somewhere.
"Oh, Alice," Mark thought, "forgive me... Please, just forgive me..."
He had no idea what had happened to her that night when he left her on that desolate forest road.
***
Alice remembered that night vividly. Terrified by the nocturnal sounds of the woods and the snapping of branches, she had walked down the road, fighting back deep sobs, too afraid to run or look back. In the pitch blackness, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. She fell, got up, and kept going, losing the road several times and struggling to find it again. Eventually, her strength gave out, and she collapsed into the tall grass by the shoulder. Near dawn, the long howl of a wolf echoed nearby.
Alice shook with cold and fear, certain she was about to die. But then, headlights flickered, and with the last of her strength, she raised a hand.
"Mark... Mark... I'm here..."
The car passed her but reversed a minute later. A man got out and cautiously approached the semi-conscious girl. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the car while she whispered through cracked lips, "Mark... you came back..."
When Alice finally woke up, she realized she was in a bed in an unfamiliar house. She shifted and sat up. A male silhouette appeared nearby.
"Mark..."
"No, my name is Michael. And yours?"
"Alice."
"Alice, can you see me?"
"Hardly. I'm very nearsighted, and I broke my glasses back on the road."
"Alice, what on earth were you doing out there?! It's so dangerous... the woods... wild animals... And these days, you can't always trust people either. Poachers, criminals... It's the middle of nowhere. Anything could have happened."
Alice shuddered, thinking of the dangers she had faced.
"Michael, I'll tell you everything, but first, tell me who you are and where we are."
"Gladly. You know my name; I'm a local forest ranger. I cover two districts. I live in this small village, in my parents' old house. That's where we are. Have you heard of Oak Creek?"
"Is that far from the city?"
"Quite a bit. Over ninety miles."
"Is your wife going to be upset that I'm here?"
"She won't be. We've been divorced for four years. She found a wealthy guy and moved abroad with him. She seems happy, I suppose; I don't check. We didn't have kids—she didn't want them, said it was too early and she wanted to live for herself. So now she is." Michael sighed. "We split the day I found out she'd had an abortion. I don't know why I'm telling you this... I've never told anyone. Not even my family. But, Alice, honesty for honesty. What were you doing on that road?"
Alice told him everything, hiding nothing.
"What a coward," Michael said, shaking his head. "Alice, you're a good person. Don't ever let anyone treat you like that again. Now, let's have some breakfast, and I'll drive you home."
"Breakfast? But it's already morning..."
"Exactly. You've been asleep for twenty-four hours. I imagine you're starving."
"A whole day?!" Alice repeated in shock. "I can't believe it." She added softly, "Thank you, Michael, for everything. It's so peaceful here, and you're so kind. I think that's why I trusted you instinctively."
A few hours later, Michael drove Alice home, said his goodbyes, and left. But he returned three days later.
"Alice, I looked into it. You can have surgery to fix your vision. There are clinics in the city that do it."
"I know, Michael, but it's so expensive."
"I have some savings. I brought them for you. What do I need them for, living out here alone?"
"Michael, why are you doing this?"
"I just want you to be able to see me one day."
"Michael, you should know... I'm pregnant with Mark's baby. I'm going to have this child."
"Good. All the more reason for you to be able to see your baby grow up."
"Oh, Michael..." Alice whispered. "I didn't think men like you existed."
Alice had the laser surgery. Nine months later, Michael arrived at the hospital with flowers and gifts to take his wife, Alice, and their newborn son home.
***
One day, a large black SUV pulled into the gas station where Mark worked. He immediately recognized his former father-in-law's car and approached him to ask about Jade.
"Ah," the man drawled. "It's you. You don't look so good."
"How is your daughter?" Mark asked. "Can I see her?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. I don't even know if I should tell you... She's in rehab right now. It's bad. You couldn't handle her, and you were her husband..."
"Sir..."
"Whatever. What's done is done. I spoiled her myself... now I'm paying for it."
After fueling up, Jade's father drove away. Mark watched him leave, thinking about how everyone gets what they deserve in this life.
"Serves her right, that witch! She ruined my life... took me away from Alice... Oh, Alice... where are you now? I'd give anything to see you."
The next day, walking past a shopping center, Mark saw a beautiful, well-dressed woman. It was Alice. She was standing there, clearly waiting for someone. Beside her was a boy... her son. No, his son. There was no doubt; the resemblance was undeniable. Mark froze, unable to move, staring at his lost love and the little version of himself. Suddenly, they both turned and looked straight at him. The boy jumped for joy and ran toward him with open arms.
"Daddy! Daddy! We're over here! Daddy!"
Mark's heart soared with happiness. In a second, he would catch his son, hug him, cover him with kisses, and spend the rest of his life apologizing to both of them. She had always loved him; surely she would forgive him. They would be together! He would do everything to make it right.
"Daddy!" The dark-eyed boy ran right past Mark and into the arms of a tall man who was holding a three-year-old girl.
"Hey, buddy! Here we are! Did you get the movie tickets?"
"Yeah, Mom has them! Let's go!"
They walked past a stunned and devastated Mark. He watched as the man greeted Alice with a tender kiss. Then they headed toward the cinema.
"Alice didn't recognize me," Mark's heart hammered heavily in his chest. "Of course, she has such bad eyesight. And she isn't even wearing glasses."
But suddenly, Alice turned back and looked Mark right in the eyes. And he realized that she had recognized him—she knew exactly who he was—but she hadn't approached, hadn't called out, and hadn't introduced him to his son. To her, he was a ghost, a void. Alone and unneeded, he stood on the sidewalk, realizing that years ago, he had thrown away the one thing a person only gets once: true love and the happiness that comes with it.
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