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He was shopping with his mom when she collapsed.
No one helped.
Young Ryan cried,helpless.
Then a girl appeared,using first-aid skills from school to save his mom,calling 911.
It saved her life—minutes later,she’d have been gone.
The Mitchells wanted to thank her,but with no cameras or internet back then,they couldn’t find her.
Ryan never forgot her face.
She inspired him to study medicine.
He thought he’d never see her again.
Until we crossed paths at the hospital.
One glance,and he knew I was that girl.
I’d been part of his life’s biggest moments.
Our bond ran deep,early.
Telling the story,Ryan’s eyes glistened.
I hugged him,comforting softly.
On Blue Ridge’s streets,evening wind scattered leaves.
We walked hand-in-hand through crowds,leaves crunching underfoot.
I put on the necklace and kissed him.“Ryan,I trust you.”
In that moment,we loved fiercely.
I had courage to love again.
I posted our trip photos and couple shots online.
My feed exploded.
My best friend gushed,“Where’d you find this hunk?Link,please!”
I didn’t block anyone.
Most comments were blessings.
“Maggie and this guy are perfect!Way better than the last one.”
“The ex was a dud—bet he was weak.This guy looks strong.Lucky girl!”
“Straight out of a rom-com.Congrats!”
I replied to each.
Ethan didn’t like the post.
A mutual friend said he saw it.
Since I left,he’d been asking about me.
That night,he drank heavily,ignoring pleas to stop.
He drank until his stomach bled,landing in the hospital.
Lily,pregnant,visited,but he kicked her,causing a miscarriage.
I was shocked at his cruelty.
My friend sighed.
The baby wasn’t Ethan’s—it was Lily’s cousin’s from back home.
Lily was already married to that cousin.
Her husband came to Portsville,beating and cursing her publicly.
She called herself vile to appease him.
Ethan,humiliated,paid them nearly a million to settle it.
Hearing this,I smiled faintly.
Rough,but they reaped what they sowed.
