Santiago ran into his ex-wife, and out of envy, his cheeks literally turned green.
He slammed the refrigerator door shut, making everything inside tremble from the impact. One of the magnets on the door detached with a metallic clink and fell to the floor.
Lucía stood in front of him, pale, her hands clenched into fists.
— Feeling better now? — she exhaled, lifting her chin.
— I’m sick of you — said Santiago, struggling to maintain his composure. — What kind of life is this? No joy, no future.
— So it’s my fault again? — Lucía replied bitterly, smiling. — Of course, not everything turns out like in your dreams.
Santiago wanted to say something, but simply waved his hand.
He opened a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and left it on the table without another word.
— Santiago, don’t stay silent — said Lucía with a trembling voice. — Why don’t you just say what’s really bothering you?
— What is there to say? — he replied sarcastically. — I’m tired of all this. To hell with it!
For a few seconds, they stared at each other in silence. Finally, Lucía let out a deep sigh and walked toward the bathroom.
Santiago dropped heavily onto the sofa.
Behind the door, the sound of running water could be heard — she had probably turned on the faucet to mask her tears. But he didn’t care.
A life turned into routine
Three years earlier, they had gotten married.
At first, they lived in Lucía’s apartment, inherited from her parents, and later moved to a house in the suburbs, transferring the apartment to their daughter.
They lived in a spacious house, but one that had never been renovated, with furniture that still recalled another era.
Initially, Santiago was happy: living downtown, in a convenient location close to work.
But over time, it began to irritate him.
Lucía loved her “family fortress” with its brown wallpaper and old inherited sideboard.
Santiago, however, saw it all as stagnation.
— Lucía, be honest — he would repeat. — Wouldn’t you like to change that horrible yellow linoleum? Renovate the place, make it modern.
— Santiago, we don’t have extra money for renovations right now — she would reply calmly. — I want changes too, but let’s wait for the bonuses.
— Wait? That’s all you know how to do: endure and wait!
Santiago often remembered how he had fallen in love with Lucía.
At the time, she had been a humble student; her sincere blue eyes and gentle smile had enchanted him.
He would tell his friends, “She’s a bud that will bloom.”
But now it seemed the flower had never bloomed — it had withered.
Lucía didn’t think of herself as insignificant.
She simply lived the way she thought right, enjoying small pleasures: a cup of mint tea, a new napkin, a quiet afternoon with a book.
But Santiago saw it all as stagnation and routine.
They didn’t rush to get divorced: Santiago didn’t want to return to his parents’ house, and living separately wasn’t a viable option yet.
Lucía’s mother, Tamara, always supported her daughter-in-law:
— Son, Lucía is a good girl. You should be grateful you have a home.
— Mom, you don’t understand anything — Santiago would reply irritably.
His father would just gesture:
— Let him figure it out himself.
At home, Santiago grew colder and colder: “She’s like a shadow, like a gray ghost…” he thought.
During one of their arguments, he exclaimed:
— I once saw you as a beautiful flower! And now? I’m living with a wilted bud…
Lucía cried that day — the first time in many months.
And that day, when everything finally broke down, Santiago said in a low voice:
— Lucía, I’m tired.
— Tired of what? — she asked.
— Of this life, of the endless routine.
Lucía picked up her bag and left.
Santiago expected her to return and ask him to stay, but she left calmly.
— Maybe it’s better if you live somewhere else. Leave.
Santiago exploded:
— I’m not leaving!
— This apartment belonged to my parents — Lucía said coldly. — And I don’t want to live anymore with someone who sees me only as a burden.
Santiago had no choice but to leave.
A few weeks later, the divorce was finalized.
An encounter that changed everything
Three years passed.
Santiago was still living with his parents, trying to start a new life, but luck wasn’t on his side.
His job barely paid enough, and only small joys filled his days.
One spring afternoon, as he was walking down the street, he passed in front of a café and, looking through the window, he froze.
At the entrance stood Lucía.
But it wasn’t the Lucía he remembered.
Before him stood a confident woman with a flawless hairstyle, an elegant coat, and a set of car keys in her hand.
— Lucía? — said Santiago, surprised.
She turned around, recognized him, and smiled:
— Santiago? Hello! How are you?
— Fine… — he murmured, unable to look away from her.
— Is everything alright with you? — she asked calmly.
— And you… it seems things are even better for you… Still working at the same place?
— No — she answered with a smile —. I opened my own flower studio. At first it was scary, but… I found someone who supported me.
— Who?
From a table inside the café, a tall man in an expensive coat came out and affectionately put his arm around Lucía’s shoulders:
— Darling, the table is ready. Shall we go?
— Santiago, this is Luis — Lucía said —. It was nice seeing you.
— I’m happy for you — Santiago said in a low voice, feeling envy burning inside him.
— Thank you — Lucía answered serenely.
Luis nodded, and together they entered the café, leaving Santiago standing on the cold sidewalk.
Once, he had said: “I’m living with a wilted bud.”
But the bud bloomed after all.
Just not by his side…
