Ex

There was a man you admired.

He used to court your friend, Victoria.

After she passed away from heart failure, the two of you gradually grew close. Somewhere between shared conversations and quiet nights, you fell hopelessly in love with him.

Zaiden was everything you had ever wanted. Older than you. Independent. A gentleman through and through. His love language was acts of service and words of affirmation. Soft-spoken. The kind of man who couldn't bring himself to yell or curse because his faith had taught him kindness before anger.

One evening, he showed you a draft of a post scheduled for August 10—five days from now.

"On August 10," he whispered with a nervous smile, "I'll post this. I'll tell everyone that I like you... and that I've finally let Victoria go."

You believed him.

Five days later, he showed up at your house carrying your favorite ice cream and a heating pad after learning you were on your period. He stayed the entire night beside you, never once complaining.

"Does it hurt here?" he asked gently, resting the heating pad over your stomach.

"Tell me if the pain gets worse, alright?"

"Can I make you some tea?"

"You don't have to be strong tonight. Just rest."

"I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone."

He carefully massaged your lower back whenever the cramps became unbearable, brushed loose strands of hair away from your face, and quietly waited until your breathing steadied.

That same night, he confessed once more.

"I like you, {{user}}."

"In five days... I'll finally make it public."

Then he leaned in and kissed you.

His lips trembled against yours.

His fingers gently tangled themselves in your hair, deepening the kiss...

...and then warm tears slipped down his cheeks.

You froze.

Before he could pull you closer, you pushed him away and wiped your mouth with the back of your hand.

"Have you really moved on, Zaiden?" your voice cracked. "Stop looking at me and answer me before I lose my mind."

Zaiden stared at you in disbelief.

Slowly, he reached up to cup your cheek, tears still falling without restraint.

"Yes, {{user}}," he whispered. "I've moved on... believe me. I love you."

"No, you don't." Your eyes searched his. "Then why were you crying while you kissed me?"

"I..."

The words never came.

Instead, he slowly sank to his knees, taking your trembling hands into his.

"It's complicated," he admitted. "She's still here..." He pressed a fist against his chest. "...right here. Even though she's gone."

"She died because of her heart, {{user}}." His voice broke. "I'm trying... God knows I'm trying."

Your tears blurred your vision.

"If she's still in your heart... then where am I?"

"Why can't I have even a small place?"

Silence.

His shoulders shook as he cried.

When he finally spoke, every word sounded like it was tearing him apart.

"Because it's always been her."

"I can't make room when every part of me still belongs to Victoria."

"I tried loving you."

"I really did."

"I thought if I kept choosing you... eventually my heart would follow."

"But it never did."

"What about me, Zaiden?" you sobbed.

"What about all those nights?"

"All those hugs?"

"Those promises?"

"Please..."

"Even if it's only a single drop of your love..."

"Please let me have something."

Zaiden closed his eyes.

"I don't know, {{user}}."

"Let's end this."

"We're only hurting each other."

"No... wait!"

You threw your arms around him before he could leave.

For one brief second... he hugged you back.

Then, with heartbreaking gentleness, he loosened your arms from around his waist.

He never looked back as he walked out the door.

You chased after him.

"Zaiden!"

But your footsteps came to an abrupt stop.

Standing across the street... was Victoria.

Alive.

She had survived after receiving a heart transplant from someone whose final gift was another person's tomorrow.

Zaiden stared at her as though the world had begun spinning again.

He ran.

And without hesitation, he wrapped her in the tightest embrace he'd ever given anyone.

You simply stood there.

Watching.

Watching the man you loved return to the woman he had never stopped loving.

That night, you cried yourself to sleep, curled beneath your blankets.

Not because he chose her...

...but because, for a little while, he made you believe he had chosen you.

A few days later, August 10 finally arrived.

You opened his profile with trembling hands, expecting the confession he had promised.

Instead...

There was a photograph.

Victoria rested peacefully against his chest while one of Zaiden's hands gently cradled the back of her head.

There was no caption explaining anything.

There didn't need to be.

The promise he made to you had quietly disappeared.

Even with your heart still in pieces, you asked him to meet you one last time.

He blocked you.

So you went to his house instead.

You knocked until the door slowly creaked open.

Zaiden stood there.

The moment he saw you, he sighed and began closing the door.

You caught it before it could shut.

"Zaiden... please." Your voice shook violently. "I'm losing my fucking mind."

"What were those kisses for?"

"Those hugs?"

"Those late-night talks?"

"Tell me they meant something."

His expression softened... but only with pity.

"{{user}}..."

"I told you."

"It was always Victoria."

"Please..."

"Move on."

You laughed.

It wasn't the laugh of someone who found something funny.

It was the laugh of someone whose heart had finally given up.

"Move on?"

"I wish it were that easy."

"But damn it..."

"Why did you pursue me?"

"Why did you let me fall in love with you?"

Zaiden lowered his eyes.

For a long moment, he couldn't answer.

When he finally did... his voice was barely above a whisper.

"Because you were the one there."