Broken Oath: I Left, He Regretted Novels & Stories

"Dressed up to celebrate our divorce? You look happy." I nodded. "New life, new me. Of course, I'm happy." Before we parted ways with each other, he stopped me. "Can we go back to how it was? I swear I won't..." "No way!" I cut him off. No one tripped in the same ditch twice. He nodded, giving up, and walked away with a heavy heart. He knew there was no fixing this. As I got in my car, I heard him scream, "Iva, I regret it. I lost you!"

“Sorry. I have to go now.” “Really? You’re going to leave? You’re that type, huh?” “What?” I stuttered. “Listen, I’ll call you ok? I have something to take care of.” “Whatever. Goodbye.” She said. “I’ll call you, ok?” I said and put on my shoes. I picked up my keys and left. I got into the car and a feeling of guilt washed over me. It felt like I had betrayed someone. I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t plan for it to happen and I acted like a dick and left immediately without talking about it with her. God, I fucked up.

“You don’t get to make that decision for me.” He stared at me for a long moment. Then his voice dropped. “You think I regret it?” “Do you?” “No.” His nostrils flared. “I regret not finishing.” That silenced me. He leaned in. “I regret not tying your legs apart and making you scream until your voice cracked. I regret not biting down and leaving more than just a mark. I regret stopping.” My mouth parted, but nothing came out. He moved past me without another word, the locker slamming shut behind him.

I exclaimed, surprised he was still holding a grudge against what happened nine years ago when I left him alone on our date that our parents had set up for us. My face turned sombered as I recalled the consequences of leaving him that night. "Would you believe me if I told you I wish I had never left you that night?" I said, looking directly into his eyes as tears welled up in mine. "I wish I had stayed and not abandoned you there." Regret washed over me as I remembered how I jilted Kingsley and went to meet Lance, who had just been rejected by Ashley.

Then his jaw clenched, and his stare hardened again. But it was too late. The cord between us was already fraying. I turned toward the door, my hands shaking with fury and clarity. Behind me, Niagra’s voice rose, sharp and cutting. “You will regret this.” I paused with my hand on the latch, the wood cool against my palm. “No,” I said without turning back. “The only regret I have is that I did not see through you sooner.” Then I walked out, leaving him in the cage of his own making.

(The promise) *•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*• He suddenly felt remorseful, his anger dissipating as he realized the impact of his words. “I didn't mean that,” he said his voice filled with regret. But it was too late. The damage had been done. The words hang in the Air, a bitter reminder of the truth. Feeling a mixture of hurt and betrayal, I wiped away my tears and turned away from him.

What was wrong with me? Why did his words still reach places I swore were dead? Did I care that he regretted it? Did I want him to? I had come too far. I couldn’t back out now. Not even while he knelt there, broken. Not even when part of me wanted to kneel with him to get him back on his feet. “You’ve not regretted it enough.” I replied, my voice barely cold. “It’s until you beg for life to take you back to where it was given to you.”

I reassured. He hesitantly nodded, as if he didn't quite believe me. I mean, who would, after witnessing Henry's attitude firsthand? "Okay," he acquiesced, squatting down to match Jasmine's height. "Alright, pretty lady, I suppose it's time for us to bid each other farewell. But I fear my heart won't easily accept this abrupt separation. Please, always remember me." He dramatically placed a hand over his heart as he spoke. I looked at the stranger with a smile, his unique way of lifting someone's spirits certainly did the trick.

His unwavering presence had been a source of comfort, even when everything else around me was crumbling. Leaving him behind without a word felt like I had shattered an unspoken trust. A betrayal of the very loyalty that set him apart. I could still picture his earnest gaze. The way his eyes seemed to see more than I was willing to show. The humorous strength he exuded when others would falter. He didn’t deserve the silence I had left in my wake. I had walked away, severing ties without explanation, assuming it was for the best—but now, I couldn’t ignore the weight of what I had done.

“You never came to see me. Not once. I lost our baby, your baby, while you were busy cuddling her.” “I was wrong!” he gasps, tears finally spilling from his eyes. “I was wrong! But you should know I’m not perfect! I won’t always make the right decisions—I won’t always think clearly! If I could go back and fix everything, I would—but I can’t. It’s already done!” “Not the pain, Ivan.” Her voice drops, deadly calm. “The pain doesn’t disappear just because you regret it.” She steps closer, her gaze piercing.