Chapter 9: The Past Is Only a Prelude

A year passed after Alicia walked out of my office.

I never heard from her again.

At first, I thought I would eventually miss her. After all, three years was a long time to share a life with someone.

But as the months went by, I realized I wasn't missing Alicia.

I was missing the person I had been before I met her.

The man who had dreams.

The man who believed his work had value.

The man who never had to beg someone to acknowledge him.

That man was finally back.

My software project became one of the company's biggest successes. I was promoted to department director, and the team I built was filled with people who respected me for what I could do.

I bought a new apartment.

I bought another car.

And this time, every decision was mine.

One evening, after a long meeting, I received a message from my mother.

"Your father and I are coming to Ricott City next week. Don't make excuses. We haven't seen you properly in far too long."

I smiled at the screen.

For years, I had been so focused on Alicia that I had forgotten how much I missed my own family.

That weekend, I drove my parents around the city and took them to my favorite restaurant.

My father looked around proudly.

"You've really built something here."

I nodded.

"I finally had the chance to."

My mother studied my face for a moment.

"Are you happy?"

I didn't need to think about it.

"Yes."

And I meant it.

Later that night, I stood alone on my balcony, looking at the lights stretching across the city.

My phone buzzed with a notification.

It was a business article about Starry Group.

Alicia Davids had stepped down as CEO.

The company had announced that she would be taking an extended leave from the business.

I read the article once, then closed it.

There was no anger left in me.

No desire for revenge.

No satisfaction at seeing her life fall apart.

I simply didn't care anymore.

I had finally understood something important.

Sometimes closure isn't an apology.

Sometimes it isn't watching the person who hurt you suffer.

Sometimes closure is waking up one morning and realizing you no longer want anything from them.

The next morning, I arrived at the office early.

My team was already preparing for the launch of our newest project.

One of my developers rushed over.

"Benjamin, the final tests are ready. We just need your approval."

I looked at the screen and smiled.

"Let's finish it."

As I walked toward the conference room, sunlight poured through the windows.

I stopped for a moment and looked outside.

A year ago, I had thought losing Alicia meant losing my future.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

She had been a chapter of my life.

An important one, perhaps.

But only a chapter.

I didn't need to rewrite it.

I didn't need to erase it.

I only needed to turn the page.

I opened the conference room door and stepped inside.

My colleagues were waiting.

My future was waiting.

And for the first time, I wasn't afraid of what came next.

The past was only a prelude.

This was my beginning.

THE END