1 . Regret

KNOCK....KNOCK....KNOCK....

The sound of knocking on the door echoed.

Serena froze for a moment. As far as she remembered, she hadn't ordered anything, so it couldn't be a delivery courier. And the possibility of a friend visiting was even more unlikely. She had lost contact with her two best friends back in college, and making new friends was never easy for her. Serena's reserved nature and difficulty opening up made it hard for her to form close relationships.

KNOCK...KNOCK....KNOCK

The knocking came again, and this time, without thinking twice, Serena opened the door.

The moment she saw the person standing outside, her expression instantly turned cold.

"What do you want?"

she asked curtly, her voice sharp and unwelcoming, making no move to invite the man inside.

"Happy Birthday."

The middle-aged man spoke softly, his warm smile contrasting sharply with Serena's icy demeanor.

Serena scoffed, her eyes narrowing.

"What right do you have to wish me a happy birthday?"

she snapped, her tone even colder.

Hearing her harsh words, the handsome middle-aged man could only smile weakly.

"Can we go inside and talk?"

"No."

She refused without hesitation.

The man let out a long sigh.

"Please, Serena... just this once. I need your cooperation,"

he pleaded.

"This will be the first and last conversation we ever have."

Serena hesitated upon hearing his words. She studied his face—Professor Darian Brouk, a name she knew all too well. His face looked pale.

Serena had no fondness for Darian, yet for some reason, an inexplicable feeling stirred inside her. A quiet warning whispered in her heart that if she refused his request, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

In the end, she relented and stepped aside, allowing Darian to enter.

Once they were seated on the sofa, Darian wasted no time and placed a key on the table.

"This is the key to an apartment," Darian said.

"So?" Serena responded indifferently.

"Inside, you will find Elena's last message."

"Don't say her name!"

Serena snapped, her eyes flashing with anger.

Silence filled the room.

Darian saw the redness in her eyes—anger and sorrow mixed together.

"Your mother's last message is inside that apartment,"

he repeated gently.

"I don't need it," Serena shot back.

Darian fell silent again. Normally, he wasn't one to push people, but this time, for the first time in his life, he had to try. He had to convince Serena—for the woman he had loved so deeply.

"I don't have much time left."

Serena's breath hitched.

"I don't know why you dislike me so much, why you rejected my relationship with your mother," Darian continued. "To me, Elena was everything. I loved her more than anything in this world. Even when she chose to leave me for your sake, I accepted it, though it wasn't easy. I have never stopped loving her, even though we couldn't be together."

Serena watched his face closely. There was no mistaking the tenderness in his eyes when he spoke about Elena—her mother.

Deep down, Serena had always known how much Darian and Elena had loved each other. They were a perfect match. But back then, she had been blinded by the words of her biological father. She refused to accept anyone beside her mother except for him.

That was when the distance between her and Elena began.

Serena had been rude to her mother, always making her upset, always pushing her away. Their relationship had never mended—not even until the day Elena died in an accident.

"I'm giving you this key for your mother," Darian said again.

"I know there were many misunderstandings between you two. I don't want to face Elena in the afterlife knowing that those misunderstandings were never resolved."

Serena remained silent. For some reason, his words made her chest ache.

"Please, take it."

Still, she didn't move.

Darian stood up, giving her one last look before heading toward the door.

Just before leaving, he turned back and said,

"You know... Even though Elena loved me, her love for you was far greater. To her... you were her world."

Serena's eyes widened in shock.

"She loved you more than she loved herself."

With that, Darian walked away.

Tears welled up in Serena's eyes, and before she even realized it, they started falling.

With trembling hands, she reached for the key and the small slip of paper on the table. It contained the address of the apartment.

Serena closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, a new resolve was set in her gaze.

&&&&&&&

Serena stood in front of the apartment door.

Her hands trembled. Was this fear? Anxiety? Excitement? She wasn't sure. A mix of emotions swirled within her.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and inserted the key into the lock. A soft click echoed.

She hesitated.

Why was she suddenly so afraid to open it?

"You can do it, S," she whispered to herself.

And with that, she slowly turned the handle and stepped inside.

The moment she did, she froze.

The apartment was filled with neatly wrapped gifts and several boxes.

Serena took a hesitant step forward, drawn to one of the presents closest to her.

She picked up an envelope resting on top of it.

The moment she read the card inside, her vision blurred, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

—

Happy Birthday, my girl ❤️

I can't believe how fast you've grown. I hope you always find happiness and are surrounded by people who love you.

I'm sorry for making you sad and disappointed in me. I know you never approved of my relationship with Darian. Maybe you wished for me to return to your father instead.

But, sweetheart... I couldn't. I wanted to explain, but I was too afraid of seeing the disappointment in your beautiful emerald eyes.

I'm sorry, my baby... and I really, really love you.

You are my treasure. ❤️

—

Serena's sobs broke the silence.

She regretted everything—her anger, her coldness, the years she had wasted. When her mother had passed, she had felt an overwhelming mix of emotions.

And now, with Elena gone forever, all she could do was cry.

"Mom... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Serena wept, her heart shattering all over again.

&&&&&

The clock read 2:00 AM, but Serena was still awake, watching old videos of herself and Elena.

Baby Serena, giggling in her mother's arms.

A young Serena, laughing as Elena kissed her cheek.

Every frame in the video was proof—proof of how much Elena had loved her.

Sometimes, Serena found herself smiling at the memories. But the tears never stopped.

"Mom... If there's another life after this, I hope you'll find happiness. I hope you'll be with the one you love."

Sleepiness finally crept over her.

Clutching a photograph of her and her mother, Serena lay down.

She closed her eyes, holding the picture close to her chest.

And for the first time in a long time, she let herself dream of her mother's warmth.

&&&&&&&