At the age of 77, I sold all my belongings to buy a ticket to see the love of my life, but something unexpected happened on the plane

I sold everything I had. My old car, my chair, my records. Even my watch—which I got when I retired. All for one ticket. One way.

I found my old friend again, whom I divorced young and stupidly and whom I had not seen for almost 50 years. But I always loved only her and always thought of her. I thought she had forgotten me. But she had not, although she married someone else and had a son.

Now I had the address of my beloved wife. Her son had replied to my letter—he said she still remembered everything.

The plane took off, and I clutched the photo to my chest. We were laughing in it, still young, on the riverbank. I held her hand. The photo was old, faded, but I knew every curve of her smile by heart. After our last meeting, I had never seen her again, and I had no idea what she looked like now.

At high altitude, when the plane flew into the clouds, my phone vibrated. I didn’t hurry to check. My heart was already beating too hard. But I opened it. And then my world collapsed, now I don’t know how to live anymore. Continue in first reaction

“I’m sorry… Mom died last night. She was waiting. She was waiting for you for so long.”

I felt no pain. Just… emptiness. It was as if everything inside me had suddenly gone quiet. The world had gone dark. I don’t remember my head falling back. All I heard were screams, footsteps, someone saying something, someone holding my hand.

I woke up—later. On the ground. Unfamiliar faces around me. Someone gave me water. Someone asked how I was feeling. I nodded. I had nothing to say. Just one:

— “I’ll come anyway. I promised.”

And I got there. I bought a bouquet—simple, wildflowers. I went to the cemetery. I found her tombstone. I sat down next to her. I put down the photo. And the ticket.

— “Sorry. I’m late.”

Then I just sat there. Listened to the wind. And the silence. She was here. I knew.

It’s always like this – we think we still have time, that we can hug, kiss, and without realizing it, we say goodbye for stupid reasons, and then it’s often too late.

I never saw my beloved, although I waited for our meeting almost all my life.