The sun was still high, bathing the park in a warm glow. Kids laughed, their carefree voices rising above the chatter. Couples meandered by, their hands clasped like anchors in an unsteady world.

And there I was, on the edge, walking alone and watching everyone live out their happy lives together, just like I had been ever since Tom. He was gone in a blink, leaving behind a heavy silence that still echoes in my chest.

That was years ago, but time doesn’t heal all wounds. Sometimes, it just teaches you how to limp along with the pain.

As I meandered down the path, playing with the wedding ring I’d never been able to set aside, my eyes caught on a family seated on a bench. Mom, Dad, and two kids. It was a picture-perfect scene, something right out of a magazine.

It was the life I’d dreamed of once before fate decided to flip my world upside down.

“Excuse me, ma’am?”

I blinked, realizing the dad was talking to me. He was tall with kind eyes and a bit of scruff on his chin.

“Yes?” I managed, plastering on what I hoped was a friendly smile.

“Would you mind taking a quick picture of us? My wife’s been trying to wrangle the kids all day for this.”

A man holding out his phone | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, of course,” I said, reaching for the phone he held out.

As I framed the shot, I caught the mom’s eye. She gave me a warm smile, mouthing a “thank you.”

The envy that flooded through me at that moment, the longing that stabbed at my heart was sharp as a knife. The woman had no idea how lucky she was to be sitting here with her husband and those two precious kids.

But I pushed the feeling down, focusing on capturing their moment.

A woman holding a cell phone | Source: Midjourney

“Alright, everyone say cheese!” I called out.

The family beamed at me, their joy so palpable it almost hurt to look at. Click. Just like that, their perfect moment was preserved forever.

“Thank you so much,” the mom said as I handed the phone back. “It’s so rare we get a photo with all of us in it.”

I nodded, suddenly eager to be on my way. “No problem. Have a great day.”

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney

The wife insisted on exchanging numbers, which I reluctantly agreed to. As I walked away, their laughter faded behind me. But the image of their happiness lingered, a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.

Days passed. Life went on in its quiet, predictable way. Work, home, sleep, repeat. It was easier that way, safer. No surprises, no disappointments.

Then came that evening on my patio. The sun was setting, painting the sky in soft pinks and purples. I sat there with my tea, feeling not content but resigned.

It was a familiar feeling, like an old sweater: comfortable, even if it didn’t quite fit right anymore.

My mind wandered, as it often did in these quiet moments, to the family in the park. Their laughter and togetherness had stirred something in me that I couldn’t quite shake. I found myself wondering about them.

Were they local? Did they come to the park often? Maybe I’d see them again. What were their names?

A woman watching a sunset | Source: Midjourney

I chided myself for these thoughts. It wasn’t like me to dwell on strangers, to let my imagination run wild with possibilities that didn’t include me, but… but they were living the life I should’ve had with Tom. I would’ve done anything for a taste of the joy they had together.