The Price of One Mistake

Genre: Contemporary Drama / Magical Realism
Theme: Regret, Self-Love, The Power of Choice, Healing from Toxic Relationships, and the Quiet Strength of True Connection.

A stranger bumped into me on the street, slipped a silver coin into my hand, and whispered, β€œSpend it wisely. You only get one visit.” Confused, I held the coin tight and walked away. That night, something changed. The coin glowed faintly in the dark, and before I could understand, I was standing in the pastβ€”at the moment my life began to slip away from me.

It was the most beautiful time of my life. I had just completed my studies and started my dream jobβ€”teaching. It gave me purpose. The sparkle in my students’ eyes, their curiosity, and the joy of learning made every challenge worth it. After everything I had gone through in life, I finally felt settled.

And then there was Yashβ€”my best friend, my constant. A navy officer, brave and sincere, yet warm and kind. We didn’t talk every day, sometimes only once a month due to his duties, but our bond was pure, deep, and unshakeable. He understood me in ways no one else ever had. In a world that always demanded something from me, he never asked for anything, yet gave me peace.

But the world around me was loud. Everyone was busy showcasing their perfect love lives, their celebrations, their endless romance stories on social media. I started to feel like a ghost among themβ€”unseen, unloved, incomplete. That silent pressure became noise in my head, convincing me that I needed someone physically present, someone who could be part of my everyday life.

That’s when I made the biggest mistake of my lifeβ€”I chose Bunny. A decision that would cost me more than I could ever imagine.

At first, it felt like a new chapter. But slowly, the cracks appeared. Constant fights, unresolved issues, cold silences, and painful loneliness even when I wasn’t alone. I gave the relationship everythingβ€”my time, my energy, my soul. For four years, I tried to fix something that was already broken.

Then, tragedy struck. Bunny met with a serious accident and was admitted to PGI Chandigarh. I stood by him and his family, did everything I could. I thought that maybe love meant sacrifice, even if it hurt. But in the end, I was left behindβ€”with a breakup that shattered me and a heart that forgot how to beat freely.

Those four years after the breakup were a blurβ€”of depression, anxiety, and thoughts that scared even me. I was drowning, not just emotionally, but mentally and physically. All the while, I remembered Yashβ€”his calm presence, the way he made me laugh even on my worst days. I had left behind someone who genuinely cared for me, for a fantasy that turned into a nightmare.

Now, standing here again, watching my old self, I wish I could scream. I want to take her by the shoulders and say, β€œPlease think. Don’t make this choice. Love yourself before you love anyone else. Don’t lose yourself trying to belong in someone else’s story.”

If only I had known that not every connection is meant to be love. Sometimes, the soul friend is the one who truly matters. I wish I had chosen peace over pressure, presence over popularity, and Yash over Bunny.

As the coin’s glow fades and I return to the present, I carry this truth in my heart:

The cost of one wrong decision can be years of pain. But even in regret, there is healingβ€”if you choose to love yourself first.


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