Gone Again

I saw him before he saw me.
He was standing across the road, talking to someone.
For a second, I almost called out.

Then I stopped.
I hadn’t seen him in a long time. Not since everything went wrong between us.
It wasn’t a big fight.

Just one of those things that got out of hand… and then stayed that way.
I told myself I would reach out at some point.

Just not then.
Just not when it still felt awkward.

Now he was right there.
Close enough.
All I had to do was walk across.

I stayed where I was.
Watching.
Thinking.

Maybe this wasn’t the right moment. He looked busy. It would be random. Forced.

I could always do it another time.
A better time.
I shifted slightly, still undecided.
Then he laughed.

The same way I remembered.
And for a second, it didn’t feel distant anymore.

I almost moved.
Almost.
But something held me back.
Pride… maybe.
Or just the habit of delaying things that feel uncomfortable.

I looked away for a moment.
Just a moment.
When I looked back again...

He was gone.
I stood there, scanning the area, like he would just reappear.
But he didn’t.

I stayed there a little longer than I should have.
Then I finally turned to leave.

And that’s when I heard someone call his name… from behind me.

This story is fictional and written to share a true life lesson