One Moment Lost, An Eternity Apart

I could clearly feel his hand trembling.

Nathaniel—the man who never flinched even with the sky falling—was shaken.

The last time I saw him like this was when I was being rushed into surgery, my life on the line.

Something about his panic stirred something in me.

“…Okay,” I said at last. “Next Wednesday, I’ll go with you.”

Work had been overwhelming since I took over the company.

But on Wednesday, I cleared my schedule and got into his car early.

He had dressed up—wore the first outfit I ever bought him.

Watching him drive, it felt like a piece of our youth had returned.

Thinking back, I said softly, “You should be the one running the company. It suits you more.”

He smiled faintly. “Today is about you. Just the two of us. Let’s not talk about anything else, alright?”

“Alright.”

I agreed calmly.

But deep inside, a quiet wave stirred.

It had been a long time since I felt this way.

How nice it would be, if things could stay like this forever.

As the car pulled into the Swan Lake Resort, his phone rang.

I glanced at the caller ID.

The contact’s name was “Baby.”

Once upon a time, that name had belonged to me.

Now, it didn’t.

And I already knew who it was.

Nathaniel noticed my gaze and fumbled. “I…”

“Answer it,” I said calmly. “You’re distracted. If you don’t take the call, you won’t be able to focus the whole day, right?”

After a few seconds of hesitation, he picked up.

“Nate, I’m all alone…” Veronica’s voice came through. “Will you come keep me company?”

“I… I’m busy today. I can’t come,” he said.

“But that woman fired me and pushed you out of the inner circle too. Aren’t you as miserable as I am?” she continued, then softened her voice. “Nate, please. I’m so lost without you. I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid. You know I have depression…”

Nathaniel panicked, sneaking glances at me.

My eyes were like ice.

Then Veronica spoke again—her tone low and desperate.

“I know today is her birthday. But if you don’t come… you may never see me again.”

Click.

The call ended.

Nathaniel—usually so calm, so composed—was shaking.

And just like that, the crack in my heart sealed itself shut again. Permanently.

I leaned against the passenger seat and closed my eyes.

“Go. Maybe she really will do something foolish. If you miss it, maybe it’ll be forever.”