My 70-year-old grandmother received a Valentine’s Day gift from the only man she had ever truly loved—a love she had lost fifty years ago. But when she refused to meet him, afraid of what reopening old wounds might bring, I realized I had to intervene. Could I bring them together after all this time, or were some things better left in the past?
“Natalie! I can’t find my glasses. Who’s this letter from?” she called out.
I took the envelope from her, noticing the neat but unfamiliar handwriting. Turning it over, I read the name aloud: “Todd.”
She froze, her voice barely audible. “Todd?”
Before I could ask any further, she snatched the letter from my hands, her fingers trembling as she ripped it open. A small Valentine’s Day card and a folded note fell out. She handed them to me.
“Read it,” she said softly.
I opened the card first. “I still love you,” I read aloud, my heart tightening.
She didn’t respond, her eyes glued to the letter. “And the note?” she whispered.
Taking a deep breath, I started reading.
“My dearest Mary, fifty years ago, we shared one unforgettable night. A night that changed my life. I never stopped thinking about you, but you never showed up at the train station in Paris. You broke my heart.”
My grandmother was frozen in place. I continued reading.
“But I found you through your granddaughter’s social media. If that night ever meant anything to you, meet me at the New York train station, the same day, the same time. Forever yours, Todd.”
The room fell silent. My throat tightened as I looked at her. Tears slowly rolled down my grandmother’s cheeks.
“Who’s Todd?” I asked, curious.
She wiped away her tears, her voice shaking. “The only man I ever truly loved.”
I looked at her in disbelief. “What about Grandpa?”
She stared down at the letter in her hands. “I loved him too, but Todd… Todd was different. We met in Paris. I was just visiting, he was studying there. We spent one perfect night walking through the city, talking about everything. The next day, I flew back home. We promised to meet again exactly one year later, same day, same station.”
Her smile slowly disappeared. “But my mother passed away. Her funeral was on the same day, and I couldn’t get in touch with him.”
I took a deep breath. “What day was it?”
She barely whispered, “February 14.”
“You have to go meet him,” I urged.
Her expression hardened. “No. I can’t. I let him down that day. I can’t help but wonder how things might’ve been different if I’d gone.”
Despite my pleas, she refused to meet Todd. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.
On February 14, I grabbed the car keys. “Grandma, I need to run an errand. Will you come with me?” I asked casually.
We got into the car, and as I started driving, I noticed her staring out the window, frowning.
“You have to meet Todd,” I said. “He remembered you all these years.”
Her face flushed. “No! Turn this car around right now!”
“No,” I replied, firmly.
The rest of the ride was quiet. I knew she was upset, but I also knew she needed this.
When we arrived at the station, it was bustling with people, but I couldn’t spot anyone familiar.
Then, a man around my age walked toward us.
“Are you Mary?” he asked.
My grandmother straightened up. “Yes. Who are you?”
“My name’s Justin. I’m Todd’s grandson,” he said. “I sent you the letter.”
I was stunned. “What?! Does Todd even know you’re here?”
Justin paused for a moment. “No. He’s regretted not finding you for all these years. So I decided to find you.”
I threw my hands up in frustration. “So, we came all this way for nothing?!”
Justin quickly explained, “My grandfather really wants to see Mary, but he’s afraid she won’t want to see him.”
I took a deep breath. “We’ll go,” I said. “Someone deserves to experience love on Valentine’s Day.”
We made our way to Todd’s building. Justin led us to the apartment and knocked on the door.
An older man opened the door. His hair was gray, and his posture was slightly bent. But when he saw my grandmother, his face softened with recognition.
“Mary…” he whispered.
“You remember me,” my grandmother said softly, her voice barely audible.
Todd’s eyes welled with emotion. “How could I ever forget?”
They stood frozen, locked in each other’s gaze, neither saying a word.
Finally, Todd stepped forward and pulled my grandmother into a tight embrace. She let out a soft sob as she clung to him, and for the first time in years, they were together again.