Without even glancing at her, Eric ripped open the wrapping and disdainfully opened the box. Inside was an elegant watch, with a discreet engraving on the inside of the strap: “For all the moments I don’t tell you enough how much I love you. Yours, always – Cora.”
He didn’t read the message. He slammed the box on the table and, with a quick gesture, threw the watch into the trash can.
Cora froze. Her eyes filled with tears, but she said nothing. She went to the children’s room, picked them up in her arms, and stayed there in the dark, rocking them and trying not to cry out loud.
In the evening, someone knocked on the door. Eric opened it, still grumbling and with a sour expression on his face. On the threshold stood an elderly man with a hat and a cane, holding a large box in his hands.
— Good evening. The “Light of Childhood” home? he asked.
— No, I think you have the wrong address, Eric said, closing the door. But the old man reached out his hand and put his foot in the doorway.
— No, I haven’t made a mistake. I’m Cora’s friend. We’ve known each other since before she got married. I come every year on February 14th to bring her the gift prepared by the children at the center. You know, she volunteered there for 6 years. She never missed a day.
Eric was speechless. He knew nothing about this. He didn’t know that in her few free hours, Cora went to read to the children, cook for them, and bring them smiles. Nor did he know that every year on Valentine’s Day, she organized a small party for them, even though she had no money for flowers at home.
— And this year… they prepared an album for her. With photos, drawings, letters. It’s for her. Do you want to hand it to her?
Eric took the box without saying a word. He closed the door slowly, with a lump in his throat. In the living room, the candles had burned out, and the cheesecake was untouched. He opened the album. The first drawing was made by a little girl who wrote: “For Mrs. Cora, the best mommy in the world, even though she’s not mine.”
He began to cry.
He entered the children’s bedroom. Cora was sleeping on the edge of the bed, with one of the triplets in her arms. Eric knelt beside her and took her hand.
— Forgive me, Cora… forgive me for everything. I didn’t see what I had beside me.
She opened her eyes, surprised by his voice. He placed the box with the album in her arms. She flipped through it without a word, then looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
— The watch… she whispered.
Eric stood up, went to the trash can, and carefully took it out. He wiped it, looked at it for a long time, then put it on his wrist.
— From this moment on… I won’t waste another second with you.
For the first time in years, hope blossomed again in Cora’s heart.
Perhaps true love is not perfect. But when it is sincere… it comes back. Even after you’ve made a mistake.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not assume responsibility for the accuracy of events or for the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed belong to the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
