Ethan Gray was born in an area barely noticeable on the map. The landscape was no more than a range of hills and tranquil lakes. He was generally gentle, protean, and polite. But what made Ethan Gray a complex person was the regret inside him. Of course, there had been tough moments throughout his life; somewhere down the road, he knew he had left the best of himself behind. He labeled it his "bad half.".
Ethan's cottage was small and thatched on the outskirts of the village, well into the forest. He had work in the village bakery, where he prepared bread and communicated with people; he spoke with neighbors, and he spent the better part of every evening contemplating the sunset. Still, amidst all that tranquility, he could not rid himself of this impression that something was lacking.
This is the story of this man named Ethan, who was going through his attic one day looking for scraps that he could sell, only to find this box of letters. There were some envelopes, which seemed to have been used for quite some time, bearing the name of a person called Lily on them. He could not resist the temptation to open one of them, and to his surprise, it was a letter he had written long ago but never posted. The words were of a love so pure and hopeful, a hope within Ethan—a desire that had been lost—was awakened. He remembered Lily, the woman he used to stay with—perhaps once in a while, he forgot she had been there.
They liked quite a number of things about her: She was the love of his life.
But as they grew up, left together, and dreamt together, at one point they thought love would always be there. But then, life—just like it is—pulled them apart. A misunderstanding had come between them, and neither of them had made an effort or tried to bridge the gap. Ethan managed to persuade himself it was too late that she'd moved on, so he buried his feelings deep inside, allowing the "bad half" of doubt and regret to take over. The discovery of the letters changed that—he had a spark ignited in him. Years may have gone by, he thought, but still within him was the good half: the half that loved, the half that hoped, and the half that believed. The past could not be rewound, but maybe, somehow, he would find his way back to that a portion of him. And now that he had the letters, Ethan had decided: he would find Lily. Not to rekindle what they once had, but to offer the apologies he had never spoken and let her know she had been loved—truly and deeply.
These searches for Lily had taken him to a town next to his, where she lived.
She had become a schoolteacher—well-respected and loved by the children she taught.
He stood nervously at the edge of her classroom one afternoon, watching as she laughed with her students. She seemed happy, content with life—something he wasn't so sure he could offer anymore. But he'd come this far, and he owed it to both of them to face the moment. Ethan came over when the bell rang, dismissing school. It’s in the eyes that they looked at each other and for the briefest of moments, nothing exists apart from that very moment. Years have gone by still they had it—that link, subtle as it was and shaky but it was there. Lily said the name hesitantly and softly, as if in surprise and inquisitiveness, “Ethan?”
He nodded, taking the old letters with him. Some of them I have never sent; some of them I wish I did send; some of them I have carried for years around my neck.
Lily refused it and took the letters which was at the top and reversed it him. I saw no signs of anger or resentment in her eyes—only the look of one who understands.
'Mama, I have always asked to know,’ the girl responded calmly, ’I’ve always wondered.’. One of the questions that were asked to participants read, ‘Why did you stop writing?’
So often I heard that you don’t want to receive calls from me, so I felt afraid to call you. "
Lily smiled softly. We were young; both were afraid of that which we did not know. But I never ceased to love you, Ethan.
He let out a sigh of relief and for the first time in years, the burden of regret was eased off his shoulders. “ I did not come here to beg for anything, Lily or to ask for your forgiveness, as I’m sure my actions cannot warrant that From me you deserve nothing but the truth, and that is, I have thought of you ever since and am sorry for everything. ”
It was still and for a moment she came closer to him. Oh, Ethan, everyone has the dark side, but it’s the light part that triumphs and that you were abundantly equipped with. ’
Ethan overjoyed for the first time in what seemed like ages beamed with happiness. I’d like to believe that again. ”
Lily stretched out, holding his hand. Well then… Let’s begin with that then.
At present, the two of them being at that point of time where the past and future meet, they were still. They would not know what fate awaited them, but in this instant in time, they were healed; there were two souls at long last being set free.
And with that, they started to follow the good half till they reached the end.
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