A few years after her husband died, Laura decided to move to her parents\u2019 old apartment in Miami. But she was there only a month when her first love, Nathan, appeared on her doorstep. Their relationship was full of mystery until he simply disappeared. Finally, she was about to learn the shocking reason why.<\/p>\n
A month ago, 78-year-old Laura took the plunge and moved to her parents’ old apartment in Miami. They bought it when they retired a long time ago, and she inherited it when they died. But Laura\u2019s entire life was in Durham, North Carolina, so her family used it as a vacation spot for years.<\/p>\n
She thought about moving when her husband, Charles, died six years ago, but it simply didn\u2019t happen. Her daughter, Melissa, had just delivered her first child and Laura didn\u2019t want to leave them. But the apartment remained in the back of her mind.<\/p>\n
When Melissa announced her second pregnancy, Laura made her an offer. She didn\u2019t want them to get into debt looking for a bigger house, so the older woman offered them her family house. It was big enough in case they expanded their family even more and was located in an excellent school district.<\/p>\n
Melissa had tons of fond memories of her childhood, so she accepted immediately. \u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want to live with us? This house has more than enough room for everyone,\u201d Melissa suggested after Laura explained that she would be moving to Miami.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, darling. You guys need your space, and I need mine. Besides, that apartment has been empty for a long time, and it\u2019s perfect for older folks. I also miss the beach like crazy. A warm beach, I mean,\u201d Laura replied, nodding her head and patting Melissa\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
Moving her life was hard, but she loved Miami. She was also happy that Melissa and her family would no longer pay for rent or be crippled by a mortgage as her old house was completely paid for.<\/p>\n
Laura sat down on her balcony furniture and enjoyed the morning sun falling on her skin every day. Doctors might say that too much sunlight is harmful to your skin, but there\u2019s something about that light and the salty smell of the sea that heals your soul. She couldn\u2019t have been happier with the decision.<\/p>\n
One day, she was making a nice sandwich with chips to eat for lunch when her doorbell rang. She removed her apron and went to answer it, thinking it might be her next-door neighbor who loved to gossip with her. But it wasn\u2019t Mrs. Cardigan.<\/p>\n
Laura\u2019s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped when she recognized the man standing right outside her door. It was Nathan, her first love. And if she was honest with herself, he was the love of her life. Over the years, Laura sighed at the memory of him, even though she loved her husband dearly. Nathan had marked her forever.<\/p>\n
They were both in their 20s and most people wouldn\u2019t believe it, but their love felt like something you only read about in books. It was passionate. It was steamy. It was the stuff of legends. The downside was it was also volatile. Some would call it toxic. But Laura was in love.<\/p>\n
Their other issue was Nathan’s mysterious nature. She knew practically nothing about his life or family, but she didn\u2019t care, even when he often disappeared for days, weeks, and even months. That was harder to take. He dodged her questions whenever Laura brought up the subject, so she eventually stopped.<\/p>\n
One day, Nathan left her old apartment with a smile on his face, and it was the last time she saw him. She waited for him to return and had no way to contact him. After a year of hoping, Laura decided to move on with her life. She met Charles, got married, and Nathan became a memory.<\/p>\n
But there he was. Standing on her doorstep as if no time had passed. So many questions ran through her head while she gaped at him like a fish caught in a net. How did he find me in Miami? What is he doing here? Does he think we\u2019re still 20 that he can just appear out of thin air? What does he want?<\/p>\n
Finally, Nathan broke the silence. \u201cHey, Laura. How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey? It\u2019s been more than 50 years, Nathan. Why are you here? How did you find me?\u201d she asked in a huff. She couldn\u2019t believe Nathan had the gall to sound so carefree after all this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. I want to explain everything. But will you let me in?\u201d he wondered and smiled his crazy smile, which still managed to make her heart skip a beat even now. His face had wrinkles, sunspots, and he couldn\u2019t stand as straight as he once did. But he was still\u2026 Nathan. Just Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. Come in,\u201d Laura finally answered in a huff, crossing her arms and leading him into her apartment.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow have you been all these years?\u201d he asked after sitting down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have time for chit-chat, Nathan. I want answers. Real answers this time. I haven\u2019t forgotten how you ignored me back then and changed the subject. You either start talking now or leave,\u201d Laura snapped, sitting down on a chair across from him with her arms still crossed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk\u2026 this is not easy. But back then, my parents didn\u2019t want me to date anyone. When I turned 20, they told me that they had arranged a marriage for me with the daughter of one of their wealthiest friends. But I didn\u2019t want it. I only pretended. I fell in love with you. But I knew they would disapprove,\u201d Nathan revealed with a huge sigh.<\/p>\n
Laura\u2019s mouth dropped open for the second time that day, and Nathan continued his story. \u201cWhenever I disappeared, I was with her. Kiara. She liked to travel. She was so demanding. But I always returned to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil the last time. I waited for a year, Nathan. I waited for you,\u201d Laura hissed, getting emotional. She couldn\u2019t believe Nathan had someone else. \u201cAnd you were cheating on me the entire time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t! I swear I wasn\u2019t! What I had with her was NOT romantic at all. I didn\u2019t even hold her hand. She knew I didn\u2019t want the arranged marriage all along, but Kiara forced my attention and my time. If I didn\u2019t comply, she might have told my parents about you, and it would\u2019ve been bad for you,\u201d Nathan retorted, frustrated.<\/p>\n
Laura thought about his words. She didn\u2019t want to believe him, but he sounded genuine. \u201cOk\u2026 so why didn\u2019t you return for such a long time?\u201d she asked quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat year was hectic. I was graduating. My father got me a major internship, and Kiara started to plan our wedding. It was all so complicated. I couldn\u2019t see you. But then, Kiara died in a car accident and the situation became even more complex. But I let some time pass. I helped her parents out because they thought I was her fianc\u00e9, and I went back to you as soon as I could,\u201d he finished, looking down as if he couldn\u2019t hold his head up after revealing everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, wow. I\u2019m sorry. I mean, I wouldn\u2019t wish harm on anyone,\u201d Laura commented but remembered something he said. \u201cWhat do you mean \u2018returned?\u2019 When did you return?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne day, I went to your house, and I saw another man there with you. I didn\u2019t know what he meant to you, but I knew I couldn\u2019t show up and ruin it after all that time. I went to your house every day for a month, and he was always there, so I stopped going. I heard you two got married at some point,\u201d Nathan explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, that was my late husband, Charles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy condolences.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens now?\u201d Laura asked, raising her eyebrows in question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. I hoped to explain everything to you, and maybe we could start a friendship,\u201d Nathan suggested.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you find me all the way here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI moved down here in my 30s. I\u2019ve been here since. I never had any family. After losing you, I couldn\u2019t fall for anyone else. Kiara\u2019s death also haunted me. It was tough. But around 20 years ago, I saw your parents walking around. I found out where they lived and hoped to see you at some point. When they died, I noticed that you didn\u2019t sell the apartment, so I continued waiting,\u201d Nathan continued.<\/p>\n
Laura couldn\u2019t believe those words. Nathan never got married or had children. And he had been waiting for her to come here for more than 20 years. \u201cWould you like a sandwich, Nathan?\u201d she offered, changing the intense subject.<\/p>\n
Soon enough, Nathan started coming over every day. At first, they were only friends. They chatted about everything under the sun. But at some point, they couldn\u2019t deny their feelings any longer. No matter how much time had passed, their love never ceased. It was like a candle that only needed to be relit to burn bright.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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