The Cheap Perfume I Discarded Held a Life-Changing Secret

Every corner reminded me of him — his mug still on the counter, his jacket hanging by the door. And in that drawer, untouched, sat the perfume. Each time I saw it, regret hit harder. I had dismissed something he gave with love, and now I’d never get the chance to tell him how much he meant to me. Months passed before I could bring myself to sort through his things. One afternoon, while going through drawers, I picked up the perfume again. My hands were shaking. I almost put it back — but the bottle slipped. It hit the floor with a sharp crack, the cap flying off.