Every Day, Old Man Mourns First Love in Their Special Place, One Day Her Carbon Copy Appears There – Story of the Day

Ethan sat at the beach every day, remembering his first and only love, Rosemary. She died years ago, and he started going to their special spot to remember her. But one day, a young woman in her 20s sat next to him with a big smile and had something shocking to show him.

Ethan sat on a bench and watched the waves come and go through the sea. Lighthouse Beach in Buxton, North Carolina, was one of the prettiest places in the world, but it had special meaning for him. Fifty-nine years ago, it was the particular spot he shared with the love of his life, Rosemary.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Granted, they were just 17 and knew nothing of the world. But they didn't need to because their love was enough. That same spot on the beach became their special place, mainly because Rosemary's parents didn't want them together.

They thought she was too young to get so serious with someone. They wanted her to attend an Ivy League school and marry a doctor or a lawyer. Ethan was not enough, especially with his aspirations as an artist.

But still, they escaped as often as they could to the beach and reveled in their love. They stole kisses in between classes at school, walked hand-in-hand through the streets, and enjoyed their youth.

All that changed when Rosemary got sick one day. She disappeared from school and didn't come to their particular spot. Therefore, Ethan was forced to go to her parents' house to find her. Her mother told her that Rosemary was at the hospital but wouldn't say where. Ethan went to all the clinics in town, and no one told him anything.

When he returned, Rosemary's mom finally revealed that Rosemary had surgery due to appendicitis and died because of complications. She also made it clear that they blamed Ethan for everything and didn't want him around anymore.

Eventually, Rosemary's parents moved out of the state, but Ethan never forgot about her. He mourned her, missed her, and no one could ever measure up to her. So he never got married or formed a family of his own. At 76 years old, he still mourned her.

But the beach was peaceful. She felt her out there and loved every minute of it.

His introspection was interrupted when he felt someone sitting next to him on the bench. "Hello," a melodious voice sounded, and it seemed oddly familiar, so he turned his head and was looking right at the woman he had loved for so long.

"Rosemary?" he breathed in shock. But it couldn't be her. She looked like Rosemary did at 17 years old.

The woman smiled, and it was exactly like his former love's. Then she laughed. "No, but you must be Ethan," she uttered, maintaining that beautiful smile.

"You know who I am?" Ethan asked.

"I do. Someone has been talking my ear off about you since I was born," the woman continued. "My name is Linda, and I have someone to show you. Look behind you."

Ethan turned around and thought he saw a ghost. An older woman — definitely his age — was being pushed in a wheelchair by another woman who also looked like Rosemary, but she had to be in her late 50s, and her eyes were completely different. They were his eyes.

"Rosemary?" he breathed once more, as he watched the woman in the wheelchair, who smiled and nodded slowly.

Ethan got up and helped them bring her closer to the bench. He looked at the three women in awe and had no idea what was happening. "What's happening?"

"Ethan, let me introduce you to my daughter, Sandra, and my granddaughter, Linda," Rosemary said, her voice still beautiful as ever.

"Hello, Ethan. Or I guess I should say, Dad," Sandra said with a tentative grin.

Ethan was shocked once again. "What?"

"Sit down, Ethan. I have so much to tell you," Rosemary said, gesturing with her hand for him to take a seat on the bench.

"Sandra is your daughter. I got pregnant when we were 17, and my parents were so angry, they sent me away. I had no choice at the time, although I considered running away with you. But I knew I had to think about what was best for our baby," Rosemary began while her daughter and granddaughter listened.

Ethan was dumbfounded. "You should have told me."

"I know. But that's in the past. I had to live with my aunt in California, and I had Sandra to think about. I went to school, raised her, and I didn't talk to my parents until my dad died. My mom followed a few years later," Rosemary continued.

"Did you move back? I haven't seen you," Ethan wondered.

"No, actually. Linda wanted to live here, and she's heard everything about you and I since she was little," Rosemary explained, looking at her granddaughter.

"When I saw you sitting on the beach every day, I knew it had to be you, so I called Grandma and told her to come here," Linda chimed in.

Ethan's eyes watered, looking at the love of his life, and then he focused on Sandra. "You had my daughter?" he asked Rosemary emotionally. "And then, you had my granddaughter?"

"Yes, Ethan. I thought about finding you when Sandra was a bit older. But I didn't know what my parents told you about my disappearance or if you had moved on. Then life got in the way, and I've put it off. But I had to tell you something," Rosemary began. "I never forgot about you. I never got married. I haven't stopped loving you for one second of every day."

"My love," he mumbled, his voice breaking. He stood up and held Rosemary's face in his hands. "Me neither, gorgeous."

Sandra and Linda went for a walk along the beach, leaving the reunited lovers to enjoy a private moment together. They both wanted to meet Ethan for so long and get them back together, and they finally made it happen.

Meanwhile, the two lovebirds caught up on their lives. Ethan was sorry he missed so much of Sandra and Linda's life, but he wanted to be a part of it now. They picked up their love as if 59 years hadn't passed. They felt 17 once again.

What can we learn from this story?

• It's never too late for love. It's never too late to find the love of your life. Some people lost their "one" while others haven't met them. But don't despair. The right one is out there.
• Young love is powerful. Parents might dismiss their kids' love lives, thinking they are too young to understand. But young love is strong, and some people never forget it.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about three siblings who received invitations to their father's funeral and were shocked when they attended.

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