Gone.

He had been waiting at the train station for over an hour, but there was no sign of her. He checked his phone again, hoping for a message or a call, but nothing. He felt a surge of emotion. He had planned this trip for months, hoping to surprise her with a romantic getaway. He had booked everything, and even bought a ring. He had packed his suitcase with care, and also bought a newspaper.

She never showed up. He had no idea what had happened to her. He tried to contact her, but no luck. He tried to calm himself, thinking that maybe she had a good reason to be late. He tried to be optimistic, thinking that maybe she would still come. He tried to be patient, thinking that maybe she was worth the wait.

But he was wrong. She didn’t come. She didn’t call. She didn’t care. He found out later, from a text message, that she had run away with someone else. Someone who had taken her to the same place he had dreamed of. Someone who had broken her heart, and his.

He felt a wave of shock and pain. He had given her everything, and she had thrown it all away. He felt like he had nothing left.

He decided he had enough. He didn’t want to wait any longer. He didn’t want to see her, hear her, or feel her. He wanted to forget her, to erase her, to start over. He got up from his seat, leaving his suitcase and his newspaper behind. He walked away from the train station, without a destination. He didn’t look back. He didn’t look at anything. He just walked, and walked, and walked.

Until he was gone.