Chapter 2: Love and Loss

David’s sandwich cart was doing well. It was still small, but every morning brought new faces. Office workers stopped by. Students passing through the train station bought breakfast. Some people came just for his warm smile. David remembered their names. He asked how their day was going. People felt something special near his cart. It was not just food. It was care. It was peace.

One morning, a young woman came to the cart. She wore a blue dress and held her hair in a loose ponytail. She looked tired but kind. David gave her a sandwich and said, “You look like you need a good day.” She laughed softly. “I do. Bad morning.” She sat near the bench. David joined her during his break. That was the beginning. Her name was Laura.

Laura worked in a nearby office. She came to the cart the next day too. And the day after. Slowly, they began to talk. David told her about Cold Spring, about his sandwich cart, about the long days. Laura listened. She told him about her job, her city life, and her dreams. Days turned into weeks. Their conversations got longer. Their laughs grew louder. Their eyes started to hold something gentle.

David had never been in love before. Life had never given him time. But now, he felt something new. When Laura smiled, the world seemed soft. When she sat by his cart, the cold didn’t matter. He started waking up earlier to prepare her favorite sandwich. He didn’t say the words out loud, but inside, he knew it — he was falling in love.

One evening, after closing the cart, David walked with Laura through a quiet street. The sky was pink and the wind light. She stopped near a tree, looked at him, and said, “You’re different, David. You’re not like other guys.” He smiled and said, “You’re the first person who saw me.” She stepped closer and held his hand. That was the day they began their relationship.

For the first time, David felt like his life was changing. He had someone who cared. He had someone to talk to after work. Laura made him feel special. She brought him coffee in the mornings. He gave her small gifts like flowers and keychains. He even wrote her a poem on a paper napkin. His mother, Mrs. Jean, noticed the light in his eyes. “You look happy,” she said. David nodded. “I am, Mom.”

But life was never simple for David. One Sunday afternoon, Laura came to visit his home for the first time. David had cleaned everything. He made tea and bought her favorite cookies. Mrs. Jean wore her nicest dress. They waited. Laura arrived on time, but her smile was different. Her eyes looked around the small room. She noticed the old floor, the broken roof, the worn-out fan. She stayed quiet for most of the time.

When she left, David walked her outside. She didn’t hold his hand. She didn’t smile. After a long silence, she said, “David, I didn’t know you were… living like this.” David looked at her and said, “Yes. This is my life. But I’m working hard. Things are changing.” Laura didn’t reply. She just nodded and left.

The next day, she didn’t come to the cart. Nor the next. David texted her. No reply. He called her. No answer. After three days, she sent a short message: “I’m sorry. I think we want different things in life.” That was all.

David stood quietly, holding his phone. The air felt heavy. His heart hurt. He didn’t cry. He didn’t break anything. He just went to the cart and worked like every other day. But something inside him had changed. That night, he sat with Mrs. Jean and told her everything. He didn’t hide his pain. “She left because I’m poor, Mom. She saw our house and walked away.”

Mrs. Jean held his hand and said softly, “This world is full of people who only see money. But not everyone is like that. Son, don’t let this break your heart. You are stronger than this. You have me. And you have your dream. You will become something great. And one day, she will regret it.”

David nodded, but the pain stayed. For the next few weeks, he worked less. He smiled less. His sandwiches were still good, but something was missing. His customers noticed. They asked if he was okay. He just nodded and said, “Tired.” He stopped adding new items. He stopped cleaning the cart properly. Slowly, his business started to fall. Fewer people came.

At night, he sat alone, staring at the walls. He didn’t talk much. He forgot his dream. The fire in his heart had become small. Mrs. Jean watched him but said nothing. She knew he had to find his way back. Life had hit him hard. But she believed in her son.

One afternoon, something happened. Mrs. Jean went for a walk with some women from the neighborhood. They passed a big car parked outside a cafe. The women took photos near the car, laughing. Mrs. Jean stood quietly nearby. One woman looked at her and said loudly, “You shouldn’t stand there. That car is not for people like you.” Another laughed and added, “Maybe in your next life, Jean.”

Mrs. Jean came home and didn’t say much. But David saw her eyes. He asked her what happened. She didn’t lie. She told him everything. David listened in silence. His hands clenched. His heart filled with fire. He said nothing, but his mind spoke loudly: “They insulted my mother. They called her poor. They laughed at her. No. Not again. This has to stop.”

That night, David sat alone in the park. The wind was cold. The trees were still. He looked up at the sky. Tears filled his eyes. “I forgot who I was,” he whispered. “I let pain stop me. I let one person break me. But no more.” He took a deep breath and looked around.

And then he saw her.

A young woman was sitting on a bench near the flowers. She wore simple clothes and was feeding birds from a small bag. She looked calm. She looked kind. Their eyes met. She smiled.

David got up and walked slowly toward her.