At My High School Reunion, I Faced My First Love Who Left Me Broken – But the Truth He Confessed Left Us in Tears and Changed Everything Forever

I couldn’t help but feel a wave of old memories wash over me as I flipped through my old school photos. Twenty years had passed since…

I couldn’t help but feel a wave of old memories wash over me as I flipped through my old school photos. I graduated twenty years ago, but looking at the pictures made it seem like yesterday.

I was young Pomeline Hale, with that silly, wide-eyed smile on my face, and beneath my yearbook photo, a corny line that I used to think was really profound:

“It takes two people to make love real.”

I laughed at how ignorant I had been at the time, but the giggle quickly vanished when I saw his photo. Reed, Dorian. My crush from high school. The man who had captured my affection for years.

Back then, I was completely smitten with Dorian; I would slip small notes into his locker, stumble through flirtatious conversations in my awkward adolescent manner, and even slip Valentine’s Day into his bag when I thought no one would notice.

I was absolutely certain that he was the one and that we would end up together.

Even down to the day of our wedding, I had a vivid vision of our life. However, I was still flying alone at the age of 38, still unsure of what had gone wrong.

Why had Dorian abruptly stopped talking to me just before I graduated? I was devastated and lost after he abruptly stopped talking to me.

Even though I hadn’t spoken to him since, the pain of it was still very much present in my mind.

The doorbell buzzed, bringing me back to the present just as I was beginning to delve further into the what-ifs.

After putting down the photo album, I went to open the door. Kerensa, my best friend, was standing there grinning broadly as usual.

“Are you ready for the class gathering, girl?” she inquired, her excitement immediately apparent.

I stopped and leaned on the door frame.

“I’m not sure I want to go, Kerensa, to be honest.”

Her eyebrows shot up, obviously startled.

“Why not? What’s going on?

I drew a deep breath.

“I was simply going through old photos when it pulled up a lot of stuff.” You are aware of Dorian.

Kerensa crossed her arms and gave a big roll of her eyes.

“Dorian Reed? After twenty years, you’re still stuck on that?

As my cheeks began to flush, I confessed, “I know it sounds silly.”

However, the pain persists. He abruptly stopped talking to me as if I didn’t matter, even though we were very close.

Kerensa moved closer and touched my shoulder with a warm hand.

He might not even show up tonight, you see. Don’t let it ruin your fun if he does. This party isn’t about reopening old wounds; it’s about reconnecting with old friends and having fun.

I tried to push the doubts away by forcing a smile.

“You’re correct. However, if he’s present… I’ll see to it that he realizes what he did.

Kerensa smiled broadly.

“That’s my girl.”

The entire drive to the reunion made me tense. I kept looking out the window while my fingers drummed my knee, engulfed in a whirlpool of emotions.

But what if Dorian appeared? What if he didn’t? I wasn’t entirely sure which would hurt more.

The closer we got, the more difficult it was for me to catch my breath because my heart was sagging in my throat.

I straightened my hair and smoothed my dress as we pulled up to the location, taking one last look at how I looked in the rearview mirror.

I was unable to get rid of the jitters that were holding me down.

“Pomeline, you look fantastic. “Really, stop worrying about Dorian—this is your night,” Kerensa said in a quiet yet confident tone.

“Alright, we’re going to have a great time.”

I smiled weakly at her, but the knot in my stomach wouldn’t go away. I muttered, still adjusting my hem, “Thanks.”

However, what if he doesn’t show up? I feel foolish for getting worked up over this. Kerensa, it has been forever.

Kerensa said, rolling her eyes as if I had said something crazy, “You’re not dumb.”

“The truth is, don’t waste your breath on him if he shows up. We make this about us, not him, so let him see what he missed.

For a moment, I felt more stable as her spark ignited mine. My heart pounded louder with each step as we climbed out and made our way to the door.

The school ascended, releasing a torrent of memories, both happy and painful. It was unbelievable to me that I was returning to that previous reality.

It was like traveling back in time during the reunion. We were greeted by elderly faces, people I hadn’t seen in a long time, some of whom I hardly knew anymore.

As friends shared stories and reminisced about their heyday, laughter rang out. I began to relax, even to enjoy it, until I noticed him.

Reed, Dorian.

When I saw him on the other side of the room, my heart leaped. Even though he was older, he still had the rugged charm I remembered.

He had a clean beard now, and he grinned as soon as our eyes met. It was a real, simple one that caught me off guard. The questions and buried madness rushed up quickly.

Why did he freeze me out in the past? Why abandon me with nothing?

Kerensa grabbed my arm and gently but firmly pulled me in the opposite direction before I could move or even clean up the mess inside.

“Follow my instructions,” she said in a steady whisper. “Stop talking.”

I tried to follow her example and muttered, “Okay,” but a part of me cried out to confront him and get the answers I had been waiting for for years.

After we had spoken with more former classmates later that evening, Kerensa spilled her drink all over her skirt. She yelled, gazing at the damp area, “Darn it!”

“This was novel! Wait, Pomeline, you need to tidy up.

For the first time that night, I was left alone as I watched her dash to the restroom.

I looked around, a little disoriented without Kerensa. The party continued to hum—music, laughter—but I felt the need to take a breath.

I slipped out to my old favorite hiding place, the peaceful bench in the schoolyard, without giving it any thought.

I used to sit there after classes, daydreaming or taking notes. It seemed like the ideal location for me to decompress tonight.

I took a seat, closed my eyes, and let the cool night air caress me.

Memories of high school came flooding back, showing how liberated and hopeful I had felt. Then the ones from Dorian. I tried to dismiss them with a shake of my head, but they persisted as usual.

I heard footsteps behind me all of a sudden. When I opened my eyes, I saw Dorian approaching with a casual smile on his face.

He said, “Hey, Pomeline,” in a kind but cautious tone.

“Dorian,” I said as I exited, my heart pounding. “A long time has passed.”

He stopped a few feet away from the bench and said, “It has.” I wasn’t sure if you would want to talk. You have avoided me all evening.

I laughed nervously, my words catching. “After how senior year ended, it wasn’t obvious that you’d want to.”

Dorian appeared genuinely perplexed. “How did it end? After that note, I assumed you had left.

“Note?” With a furrowed brow, I repeated. “Dorian, I never saw a note.”

His expression darkened as he sighed.

“I sent you a letter requesting a date at the park. I put it in your locker and assumed you wouldn’t be there. I assumed that was the reason you left.

I shook my head in complete amazement.

“No note got to me, Dorian. I assumed you had given up. unable to determine what I had done incorrectly.

More footsteps sounded before Dorian could respond. Kerensa arrived with a startled expression and somewhat flushed cheeks.

“What is this conversation about?” With a nervous edge in her voice that I had not noticed before, she asked.

“Kerensa,” I said slowly, as the pieces clicked together. “Are you aware of Dorian’s message to me?”

Her face turned white, and she briefly gave the impression that she was prepared to ignore it. However, Dorian took charge.

You gave me her response, Kerensa. claimed that she had died.

I turned to face Kerensa, and the shame in her eyes made my stomach drop. “Is that accurate?” With a shaky voice, I asked.

Kerensa’s face was burning with apologies and regret as she looked down. “I became envious,” she muttered, barely audible.

“I didn’t want you two to be together because I liked Dorian.” I assumed that if the note remained hidden, you would let it go.

A mixture of shock and anger made my chest tighten.

“You deceived both of us? Was it all ruined by jealousy?

With her eyes widening, Kerensa muttered, “I apologize.” I never imagined it would last this long. simply didn’t want to lose you.

“Get lost, Kerensa,” I said, my voice quivering from years of repressed anger.

I felt a mixture of sadness, anger, and relief as Kerensa hurried away.

Dorian took a step forward and gently embraced me with his arms. Leaning in, I experienced the warmth I had long missed.

I muttered, my voice breaking, “I thought you didn’t care all this time.”

Dorian let out a soft sigh. “I had the same thought about you.”

We stood silently for a while, waiting for the old burden to gradually go away.

Dorian stated calmly, “We can’t change the past, but we can choose what comes next.”

I smiled a little as I looked up at him and wiped away my tears. “You’re correct.”

We talked and laughed on that old bench for the remainder of the night. Even though we had wasted so much time, I was confident that we wouldn’t waste any more.