Joan scrolled through her school album remembering what her thoughts were back then. It had already been twenty years since graduation, but Joan still remembered the boy who broke her young heart. In anticipation of meeting him at the reunion, she didn’t know that he hadn’t been the one to blame.
As I sat flipping through my old school photos, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia wash over me. It had been 20 years since I graduated, but looking at the pictures made it feel like just yesterday.
There I was—young Joana Cooper, with that silly, hopeful smile plastered on my face, and beneath my yearbook photo, a cheesy quote I once thought was so profound:
“Love is a two-person job.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I laughed at how naive I had been back then, but my laughter quickly faded as my eyes landed on his photo. Chad Barns. My high school crush. The boy who had captured my heart for years.
I had been head over heels for Chad back then—leaving secret love notes in his locker, trying to flirt in my awkward teenage way, and even stuffing valentines into his backpack when I thought no one was looking.
I was convinced we’d end up together, that he was the one.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I imagined our future so vividly, right down to our wedding day. But here I was, 38 years old, still single, and still wondering what had gone wrong.
Why had Chad suddenly shut me out all those years ago? He had ghosted me just before graduation, leaving me confused and heartbroken.
I hadn’t spoken to him since, but the memory of him still haunted me, even after all this time.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Just as I started to sink deeper into my thoughts, the doorbell rang, pulling me back to the present.
I set the photo album aside and went to open the door. My best friend Lora stood there, her usual bright smile lighting up her face.
“Ready for the school reunion, bestie?” she asked, her excitement contagious.
I hesitated, leaning against the doorframe.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Honestly, Lora, I’m not sure I want to go.”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
“Why not? What happened?”
I let out a deep sigh.
“I was just going through my old photos, and it brought back a lot of memories. You know, about Chad.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Lora rolled her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms.
“Chad Barns? You’re still hung up on that after 20 years?”
“I know it sounds ridiculous,” I admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“But it still stings. We were so close, and then he just stopped talking to me, like I didn’t mean anything to him.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Lora stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“Look, maybe he won’t even show up tonight. And even if he does, don’t let it ruin your night. This reunion is about catching up with old friends and having fun, not reopening old wounds.”
I forced a smile, trying to push my insecurities aside.
“You’re right. But if he’s there… I’ll make sure he remembers exactly what he missed.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Lora grinned.
“That’s the spirit.”
I was nervous the entire drive to the school reunion. My fingers tapped nervously against my lap, and I kept glancing out the window, lost in a whirlwind of emotions.
What if Chad showed up? What if he didn’t? A part of me wasn’t sure which would be worse.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My heart felt like it was lodged in my throat, and the closer we got, the harder it was to breathe.
As we arrived at the venue, I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror one last time, adjusting my hair and smoothing down the fabric of my dress.
I couldn’t shake the nerves that clung to me like a second skin.
“Joan, you look gorgeous. Seriously, stop worrying about Chad—this is your night,” Lora said, her voice soft but firm.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“We’re going to have fun, okay?”
I gave her a weak smile, but the knot in my stomach wouldn’t loosen. “Thanks,” I muttered, still fidgeting with my dress.
“But what if he doesn’t come? I feel like a fool getting all worked up over this. It’s been so long, Lora.”
“You’re not a fool,” Lora said, rolling her eyes as if I had said something ridiculous.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Honestly, if he does show up, don’t waste your energy on him. Let him see what he missed, and let’s make this night about us, not him.”
Her confidence was contagious, and for a moment, I felt reassured. We stepped out of the car and headed toward the entrance, but with every step, my heart pounded harder.
The school loomed in front of me, bringing back a flood of memories—some good, some painful. I couldn’t believe I was walking back into this chapter of my life.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The reunion felt like stepping into a time machine. Familiar faces greeted us, people I hadn’t seen in years, some who had barely changed, others I barely recognized.
Laughter filled the air as old friends caught up, shared stories, and reminisced about the good old days. I was starting to relax, even enjoying myself, until I saw him.
Chad Barns.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My heart skipped a beat as I spotted him across the room. He looked different—older, yes, but still handsome in that rugged, confident way I remembered.
He had a neatly trimmed beard now, and as soon as our eyes met, he smiled. A warm, familiar smile that hit me harder than I expected. All the anger and confusion I had buried deep inside for years rushed to the surface.
Why did he shut me out all those years ago? Why had he left me hanging without a word?
Before I could do anything—before I could even process what I was feeling—Lora grabbed my arm, gently but firmly pulling me in the opposite direction.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Remember what I said,” she whispered, her voice steady. “Don’t talk to him.”
“Okay,” I muttered, trying to follow her advice, but part of me was screaming to finally confront Chad, to demand the answers I had been waiting for all these years.
Later in the evening, after we had chatted with a few more classmates, Lora accidentally spilled her drink on her dress. “Oh no!” she exclaimed, looking down at the dark stain.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I just bought this! I’ll be right back, Joan, I need to go clean this up.”
I watched as she hurried off to the bathroom, leaving me alone for the first time that evening.
I glanced around, feeling a bit lost without Lora by my side. The reunion was in full swing, laughter and music filling the air, but I suddenly needed some space.
Without thinking, I made my way outside, toward the quiet bench in the schoolyard that used to be my favorite spot.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
It was the place where I would sit after classes, lost in my daydreams or writing in my journal. Tonight, it felt like the perfect place to clear my head.
Sitting down, I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the cool night breeze wash over me.
The memories of high school flooded back—how carefree I was back then, how hopeful. And then, the memories of Chad. I shook my head, trying to push them away, but they lingered, just like they always had.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I opened my eyes and turned to see Chad walking toward me, his familiar smile lighting up his face.
“Hey, Joana,” he said, his voice warm but tentative.
“Chad,” I replied, feeling my heart race in my chest. “It’s been a long time.”
“It has,” he said, stopping a few feet away from the bench. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to talk to me. You’ve been avoiding me all night.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I laughed nervously, unsure of how to respond. “I wasn’t sure you wanted to talk to me after how things ended in high school.”
Chad looked genuinely confused. “What do you mean? I thought you didn’t want to see me after that letter.”
“Letter?” I repeated, frowning. “I never got a letter, Chad.”
He sighed, his expression turning serious.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I wrote you a letter asking you out to the park for a date. I left it in your locker, and when you didn’t show up, I figured you weren’t interested. I thought that’s why you stopped talking to me.”
I shook my head, completely stunned.
“Chad, I never got a letter. I thought you stopped talking to me out of nowhere. I couldn’t figure out what I did wrong.”
Before Chad could respond, I heard footsteps again. Lora appeared, looking flustered, her cheeks slightly flushed.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What are you two talking about?” she asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice that I hadn’t noticed before.
“Lora,” I said slowly, piecing things together. “Do you know anything about the letter Chad sent me?”
Her face turned pale, and for a moment, she looked like she was about to deny everything. But then Chad stepped forward.
“Lora, you gave me Joana’s reply. You told me she wasn’t interested.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I turned to look at Lora, my stomach sinking as I saw the guilt in her eyes. “Is that true?” I asked, my voice shaking.
Lora looked down, her face flushed with embarrassment and regret. “I… I was jealous,” she admitted, barely above a whisper.
“I liked Chad, and I didn’t want you two to get together. I thought you’d forget about him if I made sure you never saw that letter.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My chest tightened with a mix of disbelief and anger.
“You lied to both of us? You ruined everything because you were jealous?”
“I’m sorry,” Lora whispered, tears forming in her eyes. “I never thought it would matter after all these years. I just didn’t want to lose either of you.”
“Go away, Lora,” I said, my voice trembling with the weight of all the emotions I had kept bottled up for years.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
As Lora hurried off, a mix of sadness, anger, and relief washed over me.
Chad stepped closer, his arms wrapping around me in a gentle hug. I leaned into him, feeling the warmth I had missed all these years.
“All this time,” I whispered, my voice shaky, “I thought you didn’t care.”
Chad sighed, his voice soft. “I thought the same about you.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For a moment, we stood there in silence, holding onto each other, letting the weight of the past slowly slip away.
“We can’t change the past,” Chad said, his voice calm, “but we can decide what happens now.”
I looked up at him, wiping away my tears with a small smile. “You’re right.”
We spent the rest of the night sitting on that familiar bench, talking and laughing. We had lost so much time, but I felt hopeful we wouldn’t lose any more.
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Jim had just seen his girlfriend of ten years in bed with her best friend, and now he was sitting in a bar, drinking with a woman in a wedding dress. He thought his life was over. Ten years felt wasted, but who would have thought that one random meeting could end up saving both of their lives?
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
For 10 Years Old Man Sits on a Chair by the Sea Daily, One Day Two Boys See the Chair Empty – Story of the Day
Two brothers would see an old man sitting by the sea every day on the same chair. One day, they were bothered when they found the chair empty and decided to find out why.
Adam, 8, and Peter, 10, visited the seaside with their mom Alice every day. They would walk together along the shore, enjoying the sea breeze.
Every single day, they would come across an old man who would sit motionlessly on a chair, watching the waves. “Mom, is that man okay?” Adam asked one day.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“He is, sweetheart. He just likes to be alone. People have tried to talk to him, but he always just tries to avoid people. Let’s not bother him,” Alice replied.
The brothers couldn’t help but feel drawn towards the old man. They were curious as to why he would sit motionlessly on the same chair every day.
One day, they thought of a plan to approach him. While playing catch, they threw the frisbee in his direction so that they could come closer. When they ran up and apologized, the old man said, “You threw it here on purpose. I know you did… You,” he said, pointing at Adam, “you are great at throwing. And you,” the old man smiled, pointing at Peter, “are great at catching. So I know this was not an accident.”
The brothers’ eyes widened in shock. They didn’t know that the old man had been observing them, too.
For some reason, despite Alice knowing that the man didn’t talk to other people, he indulged the two boys in a long conversation. After they introduced one another, Peter finally asked the question they’ve been longing to ask: “Sir, why do you sit out here every day and watch the sea?”
“Well, I am here waiting for my brother. I have been waiting here for 10 years,” he responded. Adam and Peter looked at each other, confused.
“We were in the army together and were separated and sent to different countries. This happened a long time ago. When we last saw each other, we promised to meet at the same place, right here, where we constantly used to walk with our mother,” the old man explained.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“You wait for your brother every day?” Adam asked. “How do you know he’s still coming?” he asked. The old man smiled at Adam’s innocence.
“That’s the thing. I don’t know if he’s coming. I used to come, years ago, but my work transferred me to another city. Now, for the past 10 years of living here, I’ve been coming daily. They gave me his army dog tag, but they never found him. He is still missing,” he said, taking his brother’s dog tag out of his pocket.
Adam and Peter were sitting beside each other at that moment. The old man patted their heads and said, “That’s why you must take care of each other, boys. Brotherly love is the greatest strength in the world.”
After sharing his story, the old man introduced himself as Walter. The boys enjoyed his company that ever since that day, they would make it a point to spend time with him, bringing sandwiches and drinks. They would spend the afternoons talking and listening to each other’s stories.
One day, Walter and the brothers were surprised to see each other walking in the same direction while on the way home. “We live near each other!” Peter exclaimed. Walter couldn’t help but smile.
“I guess we do, sweet boy,” Walter said, waving before he entered his house.
The two boys felt extremely close to Walter already, after days of talking to him. They were so moved by Walter’s story that they decided to use social media to spread it, hoping to find his brother.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
One day, they went to the beach to find him and tell him about what they did. But when they got there, he was not at his usual spot. “He comes here every day! Every single day! Why isn’t he here?” Adam asked his mom.
“This can’t be. Something must have happened to him. We need to go to his house,” Peter said. At that, Alice allowed them to check Walter’s house by accompanying them there.
When they got there, they knocked. After a couple of seconds, Walter opened the door. The boys exhaled with relief. “Walter! Why didn’t you come to the beach today? Have you given up?” Adam asked him. Walter was smiling. Behind him stood a man who looked exactly like him.
The two boys were taken by surprise when the man suddenly shouted, “IT’S THEM! THOSE TWO BOYS POSTED ON THE INTERNET! I RECOGNIZED THEM RIGHT AWAY!”
Walter’s brother, James, found him thanks to the publication that Adam and Peter had put up. Walter smiled and hugged the two boys. “Thank you for finding my brother after forty-four long years,” he said, giving them both hugs.
It turns out that James was injured at the battle he was in, and he ended up losing his memory. He was sent back to the US, where he was diagnosed with dissociative amnesia caused by the overwhelming stress brought about by the war.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I was told I would likely regain my memory either slowly, or all at once. In the past few decades, I slowly started to remember things like my first name, the fact that I lived in California, but nothing conclusive enough to bring back my old life,” James explained.
“Then one day, I was looking through the internet when I saw a post by these two sweet boys. It had a photo of you, Walter, and I suddenly remembered you and our brotherhood. I just knew we were brothers. I made my way to the address they posted right away,” he added.
At that, Walter and James took out their army dog tags from their pockets and handed one each to Adam and Peter. “We no longer need this. Because of you, we’ve found each other again. These are yours now. May it be a reminder to always take care of each other,” Walter said.
As they lived near each other, Adam and Peter would always visit Walter and James, who ended up moving in with his brother.
What can we learn from this story?
- Keeping the faith can be rewarding. Every day, Walter hoped that his brother would show up. One day, after choosing to share his story with Adam and Peter, his brother eventually showed up.
- The most unexpected relationships can mean the most. Adam and Peter never thought they’d get close to Walter, but when they did, and it brought about life-changing memories for everyone.
Share this story with your loved ones. It might inspire them and make their day.
Leave a Reply