The Love That Could Have Been (EN-ES)

Image created in Artguru
In a local café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with herbal tea. Spencer, a young aspiring novelist, sipped from his cup of tea to organize his thoughts, facing a laptop with a blank document, unable to write, trapped by his inability to find the right words.
A writer's block held him prisoner, and desperation began to frustrate him. Spencer had no idea how to start the next chapter of his work; the weight of uncertainty and indecision paralyzed him.
So one day, Spencer, determined to free himself from the burden that was suffocating him, decided to do something different to break the monotony of his daily routine. He packed his things into a suitcase and took a flight to France.

The city of Paris enveloped him from the very first day. Its cobblestone streets, picturesque cafés, and the golden light of sunset ignited a spark in him; it was exhilarating to vacation in a place he had never seen before.
Walking down the street, Spencer took photographs on his phone; somehow, his journey led him to an art gallery, where the paintings and sculptures revealed the essence of French culture.
It was there that he met her: Claire, a painter with curly hair as blue as the ocean. She was gazing at the same exhibit as Spencer, a photograph of the blue sky.
"Art is very abstract, don't you think?" Spencer said, trying to start a conversation.
"More like, it's exactly what we need," she replied, absorbed in the painting.
"Oh really?" he said, intrigued.
"Yes... When I feel lost, just looking at a painting or a photograph for a few minutes helps me reconnect with myself. It's as if a part of me resides in the art and finds me," she said, moved.
"Wow... That's the most beautiful thing I've been told," he said.
"I wasn't flattering you," she said, somewhat confused.
"Even so, I don't usually hear heartfelt words every day," he said with a smile.
Her laughter was music to Spencer's ears; as they continued observing the wonders of the gallery, they shared endless conversations about life and art.

Romance blossomed with every encounter; Spencer was captivated by Claire. His passion for art found motivation; it was a powerful but fleeting flame.
On his third day in the City of Love, Spencer attended the art exhibit again; that day he aimed to be concise and direct with Claire to convey his feelings, but he was surprised by a small detail.
On the third date, he discovered that Claire was wearing a sparkling ring on her hand.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just... when I come here, I try to forget the worries of my life and just want to be free," she said, tears in her eyes.
Spencer didn't know what to say or do; his heart sank upon learning that Claire had a husband. The revelation felt like a bucket of cold water; he kept his feelings locked in his heart and thanked Claire for telling him the truth.

Heartbroken and disappointed, Spencer decided to return home. There was no point in continuing his vacation; he had work waiting to be done.
The flight back was a sea of scattered thoughts, and every image of Claire that crossed his mind only made him feel miserable. However, the memories were very beautiful. Spencer still recalls the warmth of the conversations with the mysterious artist. Melancholy transformed into inspiration, and suddenly, words began to flow like a torrent in his mind.
On the plane back home, he sat in front of his computer, his fingers dancing over the keyboard, writing with the passion of his days in Paris. The new chapter of his novel would be based on the love story he wished he could have had; the ephemeral yet profound connection he felt with Claire became the spark of inspiration he desired. Each word written was a tribute to the beauty of that adventure, which he titled "The Love That Could Have Been."
The characters came to life: a novelist lost in his own work and a mysterious woman who, despite her reality, had managed to inspire the impossible. Through its pages, Spencer explored what it would have meant for him to love someone.

Days turned into arduous weeks of work, and finally, it happened; his new book was finished. "The Love That Could Have Been" became a resounding success, resonating with readers who recognized the beauty of art and the power of love. Spencer had fulfilled his dream.
In the end, the young novelist realized that sometimes what seems like a tragic ending transforms into an opportunity for growth. Claire remained a bittersweet memory; that vacation was part of a chapter that closed but left the door open to new possibilities.
A constant intertwining of moments, where every connection, even those that do not last, can lead to creating something beautiful.
With a smile on his face and a new purpose, Spencer looked out the window of the café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the herbal tea in his cup. He was ready to write again, for sometimes, the true adventure begins with a word and a heartbeat.

Original version in Spanish

Imagen realizada en Artguru
En una cafetería local, el aroma del café recién hecho se entremezclaba con el té de hierbas. Spencer, un joven aspirante a novelista sorbe la taza de té para organizar sus pensamientos, frente a él, una laptop con un documento en blanco, incapaz de escribir, se encontraba atrapado al no encontrar las palabras deseadas.
Un bloqueo del escritor lo mantenía prisionero y la desesperación lo empezaba a frustrar. Spencer no tenia idea de cómo comenzar el siguiente capítulo de su obra; El peso de la incertidumbre y la indecisión lo paralizaba.
Así que un día, Spencer decidido liberarse de la carga que lo asfixiaba haciendo algo diferente para romper con la monotonía de la rutina diaria, empacó sus cosas en una maleta y tomo un vuelo a Francia.

La ciudad de París lo envolvió desde el primer día. Sus calles empedradas, los cafés pintorescos y la luz dorada del atardecer despertaron en él una chispa, era emocionante vacacionar en un lugar nunca antes visto.
Caminando por la calle, Spencer tomaba fotografías en su teléfono, de alguna forma su recorrido lo hizo llegar a una galería de arte, en donde las pinturas y esculturas le mostraron la visión de la cultura francesa.
Fue ahí donde la conoció: Claire, una pintora de cabello rizado y azul como un océano. Ella veía la misma exhibición que Spencer, una fotografía del cielo azul.
"El arte es muy abstracto ¿no lo crees?" dijo Spencer tratando de iniciar la conversación.
"Más bien, es justo lo que necesitamos" dijo ella mientras miraba absorta la pintura.
"Ah si?" dijo él intrigado.
"Si... Cuando me siento perdida, basta con mirar un cuadro o una fotografía por unos minutos para reencontrarme conmigo misma. Es como si una parte de mi estuviera en el arte y me encontrara." dijo ella conmovida.
"Vaya... Es lo más precioso que me han dicho" dijo él.
"No te estaba halagando" dijo ella algo confundida.
"Aun así, no suelo escuchar palabras dichas con el corazón todos los días" dijo él con una sonrisa.
Su risa era música para los oídos de Spencer, mientras seguían observando las maravillas de la galería, juntos compartieron charlas infinitas sobre la vida y el arte.

El romance floreció con cada encuentro, Spencer estaba cautivado por Claire, la pasión por el arte tenia motivación, era una llama potente pero fugaz.
En su tercer día en la ciudad del amor, Spencer asistió de nuevo a la exhibición de arte, ese día tenia el objetivo de ser conciso y directo con Claire para transmitirle sus sentimientos, pero se llevo una sorpresa en un pequeño detalle.
En la tercera cita, descubrió que Claire llevaba un anillo brillante en su mano.
"Lo siento, no era mi intención ocultártelo. Es que... Cuando vengo aquí trato de olvidar las preocupaciones de mi vida y solo quiero ser libre" dijo ella con lagrimas en los ojos.
Spencer no sabia que decir o que hacer, su corazón se hundió al enterarse de que Claire tenía un esposo. La revelación fue como un balde de agua fría; Guardo sus sentimientos en su corazón y le dio las gracias a Claire por decirle la verdad.

Desconsolado y decepcionado, Spencer decidió regresar a casa. Ya no tenia gracia quedarse vacacionando por más tiempo, tenia trabajo pendiente por hacer.
El vuelo de vuelta fue un mar de pensamientos dispersos, y cada imagen de Claire que cruzaba su mente solo lo hacia sentir miserable. Sin embargo, los recuerdos eran muy bellos. Spencer aun recuerda la calidez las conversaciones con la misteriosa artista. La melancolía se transformó en inspiración, y de repente, las palabras comenzaron a fluir como un torrente en su mente.
En el avión de regreso a su hogar, se sentó frente a su computadora, los dedos danzando sobre el teclado, escribiendo con la pasión de sus días en París. El nuevo capitulo de su novela estará basado en la historia de amor que le habría gustado tener, la conexión efímera y profunda que había sentido con Claire, se convirtió en la chispa de inspiración que deseaba. Cada palabra escrita fue un homenaje de la belleza de esa aventura y lo titulo "El amor que pudo ser"
Los personajes cobraron vida; un novelista perdido en su propio trabajo y una misteriosa mujer que a pesar de su realidad, había logrado inspirar lo imposible. A través de sus páginas, Spencer exploró lo que para él hubiera significa amar a alguien.

Los días se convirtieron en arduas semanas de trabajo, y finalmente sucedió, su nuevo libro fue terminado. "El amor que pudo ser" se convirtió en un éxito arrollador, resonando con lectores que reconocían la belleza del arte y el poder del amor. Spencer había cumplido su sueño.
Al final, el joven novelista comprendió que a veces lo que parece ser un final trágico se transforma en una oportunidad de crecimiento. Claire siguió siendo un recuerdo agridulce, Esas vacaciones fue parte de un capítulo que se cerró, pero que dejó la puerta abierta a nuevas posibilidades.
Un constante entrelazado de momentos, donde cada conexión, incluso las que no perduran, puede llevar a crear algo bello.
Con una sonrisa en el rostro y un nuevo propósito, Spencer miró por la ventana de la cafetería, el aroma del café recién hecho se entremezclaba con el té de hierbas en su taza. Él estaba listo para escribir de nuevo, porque a veces, la verdadera aventura empieza con una palabra y un latido del corazón.


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This write up is soft, melancholic, and so full of atmosphere. I love how you tied Spencer’s heartbreak to his creative awakening; it felt like watching art and emotion blend into one. The Paris imagery, the blue-haired painter, the bittersweet ending… it's all so airy yet beautiful, like the scent of a fruity perfume, lol. Sometimes, love doesn’t have to last to leave something lasting behind, you captured that perfectly.
A charming story with that beautifully crafted narrative you always use in your stories. Romance, heartache, and a new beginning that leads to opportunities. Excellent work.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Excellent Thursday.
Wow! Such a beautiful story. I love the fact that your story captured a real truth. In reality, the heartbreaks, pain or disappointments some of us go through only serve as an ignitor that stirs up something in us. Sometimes, it's either something we've been hiding within us, or something we've been avoiding for a long time.
Every experience is part of a chapter in your story, whether good or bad, it helps you progress until you start a new chapter.