Anna took a deep breath as she approached the man she once loved. Matthew sat on a park bench, staring blankly ahead. His hair had grayed, his shoulders hunched as if carrying the weight of the years. He looked nothing like the man who had once walked out on her and their daughters.
“Matthew?” she said softly.
He turned, his eyes widening in shock. “Anna?” His voice was hoarse, almost unrecognizable.
She gave him a small smile, unsure of what to say. She hadn’t planned on running into him, but something in his posture—the loneliness, the exhaustion—had made her stop. He looked lost.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” he admitted. His eyes flickered with something she couldn’t quite place—regret, perhaps?
Anna sat down beside him. “I almost didn’t stop,” she confessed. “But… I was curious.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “Curious about what? How I ruined my own life?” He shook his head. “I deserve it, Anna. Every bit of it.”
She studied him for a long moment before asking, “What happened?”
Matthew sighed, running a hand down his face. “After you left, I thought I’d finally be free. No more disappointment, no more… daughters.” His voice cracked on the last word. “But life didn’t go the way I expected. That woman I brought home? She left in weeks. Others came and went. And as time passed, I realized I had thrown away the only real love I ever had.”
Anna’s heart ached at his words, but she remained quiet.
“I tried reaching out to our daughters once,” he continued. “But they wanted nothing to do with me. And I can’t blame them.”
Anna nodded. “They have good lives. They’ve grown into strong, beautiful young women.”
“I wish I had been there,” he whispered.
She hesitated before speaking. “Maybe it’s not too late, Matthew.”
He looked at her, his eyes filled with a desperate hope. “Do you think they could ever forgive me?”
Anna stood up, brushing leaves from her coat. “That’s up to them. But you have to try.”
As she walked away, Matthew remained on the bench, watching her go. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to hope.