Scenario:It was summer. I had just divorced my wife, Samantha. But I never expected to see her in a beach....with another man?
The way she dumped me was humiliating
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It was summer. I had just divorced my wife, Samantha. But I never expected to see her in a beach....with another man?
The way she dumped me was humiliating
Henry
emotional, yet yearning. Henry is haunted by memories of his past with Samantha, his exwife. Despite their painful divorce, he still harbors feelings for her. He stumbles upon Samantha on a beach with another man, which reignites old emotions. Henry's journey involves navigating unresolved feelings, trying to move on, and dealing with the lingering connection to Samantha.
Samantha
vibrant, and determined. Samantha chooses to end her marriage to Henry despite his deep affection for her. Her appearance on a beach with another man stirs up old emotions in Henry. Though she moved on, Samantha's past with Henry remains significant, creating an intricate web of feelings and memories that affect both her and Henry.
Tom
straightforward, and analytical. Tom plays a crucial role in helping Henry navigate his emotional turmoil postdivorce. He encourages Henry to move on but also respects his friend's need to resolve past issues. Tom's presence offers Henry stability and a realistic perspective on life without Samantha, highlighting the contrast between their friendship and Henry’s complicated relationship with his exwife.
It was summer.
It was the first time I came to the beach after my divorce.
And I never expected to see her here, in her red bikini and sapphire necklace, with another man.
My wife… or should I say exwife.
The way she dumped me still made me want to scream in anger.
I still remembered what she said when she handed me the divorce agreement.
"I can't be your wife anymore. I’m sorry."
Sorry?
She was sorry?
What a terrible joke!
Did she think her sweet smile and apologetic face could make up for the hurt she had caused me?
I had loved her for ten years, and when I finally worked up the courage to propose, she said yes.
We got married, and I thought our happiness would last.
But all of a sudden, she wanted a divorce.
No matter how I persuaded her to stay, she just ignored me.
Now, seeing her with another man, laughing so happily… it all came flooding back.
"Samantha?"
I whispered her name again as if I wasn’t believing what I had just seen.
The golden sand crunched softly beneath my feet.
Samantha’s long brown hair fluttered in the sea breeze while she leaned back in her beach chair, carefree.
I stared at the man beside her.
He must be that new guy in her life.
My legs moved forward, one after another, without my conscious thought.
The warm sand sank beneath my feet as I walked.
The couple remained oblivious to my approach, their laughter carrying over the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.
Twenty feet away.
I clenched my fists tightly and rehearsed the words I had held back for months.
Fifteen feet away.
My heart pounded against my ribs, and I could feel my pulse throbbing in my temples.
Ten feet away.
Sweat beaded on my forehead despite the cool sea breeze.
The man was the first to notice me, and his smile faded as he tapped Samantha on the shoulder.
She turned around, her eyes widening in recognition when they locked onto mine.
The sapphire necklace glinted in the sunlight, mocking me.
"David, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place.
"I could ask you the same thing," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
The man beside her cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable, and said, "Maybe we should all just calm down and talk this through."
I stood before them, my fists clenched and my jaw set.
The beachgoers around us began to stare, sensing the tension in the air.
The man rose from their beach towel, positioning himself between Samantha and me with open palms.
"Let's all calm down," he said, his voice firm but controlled.
I barely heard him over the blood rushing in my ears.
Samantha placed a hand on his arm, whispering something in his ear.
He nodded and stepped aside, allowing her to take center stage.
She gathered her wrap dress around her shoulders, avoiding my gaze as she asked softly, "Can we walk?"
I nodded stiffly, following her along the shoreline.
The waves crashed against my ankles as we moved, the sound mirroring the turmoil inside me.
"David, I never meant for you to find out like this," she began, her voice trembling slightly.
"Find out what, Samantha?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin.
She stopped walking and turned to face me, her eyes filled with a mixture of regret and determination. "I'm pregnant."
My mind went blank.
I stood there, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore fading into the background as I processed her words.
The warmth of the sun on my skin seemed to pale in comparison to the weight of what she had just revealed.
Samantha continued speaking, her voice a mix of nervousness and resolve.
"I know this must be a shock, but I want you to know that I'm happy about this. I've always wanted to be a mother."
The words hung in the air, heavy with implications.
I felt like I was drowning in their depth, unable to escape the reality that was crashing down around me.
She took a step closer, her eyes pleading for understanding.
"David, please believe me when I say that this has nothing to do with you. It's not your fault that we couldn't have a baby together. It's just... fate."
Fate?
I couldn't think about fate right now.
All I could think about was how she had moved on with her life so quickly, carrying another man's child when we had tried for years without success.
The rage building inside me threatened to consume me whole.
My breathing grew heavy, and my vision narrowed to a pinpoint.
Without thinking, I turned away from Samantha and took three steps toward the man who was watching us cautiously from a distance.
"Is it yours?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but the accusation clear.
He hesitated, glancing at Samantha before nodding slowly. "Yes, it is," he admitted, his eyes steady on mine.
My hands shook, my fingernails digging into my palms as I stared at them.
Samantha stepped between us, her face tense with concern.
The beachgoers around us paused in their activities, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of curiosity and unease.
I took another step forward, my breathing heavy and irregular.
The boyfriend raised his hands defensively, backing away slightly.
Samantha placed a hand on my chest, much like she had done countless times during our marriage when I was on the verge of losing control.
But this time, her touch made me flinch.
"Don't," I warned, my voice cracking with emotion.
She withdrew her hand but stood her ground, her eyes locked on mine.
I turned and walked away, leaving them behind as the waves erased my footprints.
I trudged along the shoreline, putting as much distance between myself and Samantha as possible.
The wind began to pick up, whipping sand against my legs as dark clouds gathered above.
The beachgoers around me started packing up their belongings, but I barely noticed them.
My phone buzzed in my pocket - Tom calling to check on me.
Before I could answer, a loud crack of thunder boomed across the sky.
Looking back, I saw Samantha and her boyfriend hurrying to collect their things, seeking shelter from the impending storm.
She glanced in my direction, concern etched on her face as the first heavy raindrops fell around us.
The storm intensified, the wind growing stronger as the rain pounded against my skin.
I watched Samantha struggling to gather her beach bag, the wind blowing it out of her grasp.
A flash of lightning illuminated the sky, and in that moment, I saw the worry etched on her face.
Something inside me snapped, and before I could think twice, my feet were moving through the wet sand, carrying me toward her.
I reached her just as she was gathering the last of their things.
Without thinking, my hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.
She gasped, dropping her bag as her boyfriend shouted something at me.
But his voice was lost in the howling wind.
I pulled her toward me, her skin slick with rain as she tried to plant her feet firmly on the ground.
Then, with a sudden clarity, I released her and walked away into the storm.
I stumbled along the shoreline, my clothes clinging to my skin as the rain pounded against me.
The wind whipped my hair into a frenzy, and the thunder boomed in my ears.
Each step sank into the wet sand, making every movement a struggle.
Behind me, I could hear distant shouts - probably Samantha and her boyfriend seeking shelter - but they grew fainter with each passing moment.
My phone buzzed again in my pocket; Tom was probably worried about me.
Lightning split the sky, casting an otherworldly glow over the empty beach ahead.
I turned my back on the chaos, letting the storm swallow me whole.