In a small coastal town where the ocean kissed the shores with a gentle breeze, there lived a man named Ethan, haunted by the echoes of a love that once felt eternal. He often found himself standing at the edge of the water, memories washed ashore like shells, each one a reminder of her — Mia. She was his everything, the light that filled his days and the warmth that wrapped around his heart.

Ethan would often wander through the old photographs they had taken together, their smiles freezing moments of bliss in time. But that time had faded, replaced by an ache he could not shake. He tried to see others in the light Mia had cast, but it was impossible. Each face blurred, and the more he searched for comfort, the more he felt her absence. He moved far away, hoping distance would ease the pain, but it only magnified his longing.

He remembered the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed and how they became mirrors reflecting his own joy. It was as if, in those moments, they were two halves of a whole, complete and untroubled. But somewhere along the way, communication faltered; they stopped talking about their fears, their dreams — the plans for a future that had seemed bright. They lost their way without even trying.

Whenever he recalled the painful moments — times when their paths diverged — his heart clenched in a vice of regret. The nights apart were unbearable; he missed her fiercely, as if each beat of his heart called out her name. He could still feel the warmth of her hand in his, the way her head would lean against his shoulder as the sun dipped beyond the horizon.

But life moved on, and so did Ethan, yet he felt trapped in a cycle of what-ifs and maybes. The thought of another woman stepping into Mia's place scared him. He dared not drop himself into another's affections, fearing the cuts that deep love could inflict; the scars and pain that followed felt like sunburns, reminders of a love once cherished and now lost.

Once, amidst a crowded street of the bustling city he now called home, Ethan saw her. Mia stood across the road, her features unchanged, though the space between them felt insurmountable. Their eyes locked, and in that brief moment, the world around them faded. He could almost hear the unspoken words echoing in the silence — the love, the hurt, the longing.

But as quickly as it began, a bus rumbled between them, stealing her away once more. He stood frozen, grappling with the clarity that washed over him; they had never truly tried. How could he have let her slip through his fingers without a fight? In the end, it was not about moving away but rather not having the courage to face the distance that grew in their hearts.

Ethan turned back to the ocean, watching the waves crash forcefully against the shore, wondering if he would ever be brave enough to seek her out again. He held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, one day they could rediscover each other among the tides of time, buried memories, and unspoken words. Until then, he carried the weight of what was lost, forever searching for the love that used to be his.