Antonio loved me more than anyone else in the world.
During the four years of college, she was the only one who believed in me, encouraged me on, and helped me with tests, stress, and ramen dinners late at night. She was gentle and patient, and her love for me never wavered.
But living outside of school isn’t as easy as dating in college. After we graduated, life started to pull us in various directions.
A big corporation in Mexico City offered me a good position just after I graduated. Antonio, on the other hand, had a hard time. After sending out résumés for months, Antonio finally got a job as a receptionist at a small clinic in his neighborhood.
I didn’t simply notice the difference; I paid attention to it.
Picking Money Over Love
Back then, I thought I was intended for more. I told myself I “deserved better” than a partner who didn’t make much money. The truth was worse: I wanted to be important.
So I did the worst thing.
I ended things with Antonio. And not just anyone; I left her for the CEO’s daughter. Her last name opened doors faster than any business degree.
Antonio cried that day. She gripped my arm and begged me to stay, her voice breaking with every word. But I still didn’t change my mind. I had already decided that she wasn’t “enough” for the life I wanted.
A Marriage That Didn’t Work Out
Five years later, I was the assistant sales manager. I had the nice clothes, the title at work, and the business card with gold letters.
What about my life outside of work? The battlefield was cold and lonely.
My wife, who was the CEO’s daughter, always put me down for what she called my “average salary,” even though I worked for her father’s company. I could feel the pressure of her expectations and the rage of my father-in-law.
One afternoon, a friend from college called me and told me some light gossip that would change everything.
The Invitation That Made Me Feel Proud
He asked, “Did you hear?” “Antonio is getting married.”
He said, “She’s marrying a construction worker,” before I could process what he had said. No money. To be honest, she still can’t make a good option.
I laughed, but it was a hollow, smug laugh.
I could picture him in my mind: a man in a cheap suit with wrinkles, tired hands, and a cheap tie. I decided right then and there that I would attend to the wedding, not to wish her well, but to show her what she had lost.
The fitted clothes, the luxury car, and the confident entrance all made me feel like the most successful person in the world. I wanted her to feel bad for letting me go.
The Big Entrance That Didn’t Go as Planned
I put on my best costly designer clothes and got into my gleaming car on the day of the wedding. As soon as I walked into the reception area, I could feel everyone looking at me. I put my chin up. I felt like I had won.
I saw him then.
The Groom I Didn’t Expect
The groom donned a simple beige suit to the altar. No designer labels or conspicuous outfits. But his smile and other traits made me stop.
I walked closer, and the sound of my heels on the floor echoed. Then my stomach dropped.
There was Emilio.
What a Man Thinks I didn’t see it
For one semester, Emilio and I lived together in college. He was a humble and unassuming man who was always there. Sadly, he lost one of his legs in an accident during his last year. I never heard him say anything terrible, though.
He was always willing to help anyone who needed it, whether it was carrying groceries for a neighbor, staying up late to help with homework, or giving someone his notes without thinking twice. I didn’t realize how nice he was.
After he graduated, he took a job as a construction supervisor. The pay wasn’t spectacular, but he was always delighted when I saw him on social media.
And now he was at the altar, confident and steady, kneeling on one knee and holding Antonio’s hand like it was the most important thing in the world.
I didn’t want Antonio to be happy.
Antonio looked great. Her eyes shone with the light of someone who was completely at peace. Her smile was calm, warm, and sure.
The woman who had formerly been sad over my rejection was no longer there. This woman stood tall, proud of the man next to her. She didn’t care about how much money he had or what kind a suit he was wearing.
I saw two elderly men at the table next to me discussing quietly about Emilio:
“Lost a leg but never his spirit.”
“Works hard and sends money to his parents every month.”
“Saved for years to buy land and build her a home.”
“Faithful, honest, and liked by everyone here.”
The things that other people said stung more than I thought they would.
The instant I knew what I had lost was deep.
As the ceremony began, Antonio walked up to the altar with Emilio’s hand in his. There was no hesitation or feeling of being self-conscious.
I remembered the days when Antonio was so scared to be seen with me in public because she believed her basic clothes would make me feel bad. But there she was, walking confidently next to a man with one leg, her face glowing with happiness.
At that instant, I knew the truth: she had found happiness that I could never give her.
The longest trip home
After the ceremony, I discreetly left. At the end, there was no major fight or unpleasant things said.
I dropped my expensive purse on the couch at home and fell to the floor. My chest hurt. And then I cried.
I didn’t cry because I was envious. I was sad because I now understood that I had lost the most important thing in my life. Not because she found someone “better” in terms of money or status, but because she found someone better in terms of heart.
The Lesson That Changed Me
I still had the job title, the nice car, and the clothes. But none of that could fill the hole I felt.
Antonio had found someone who would do everything for her, even if it meant crawling through fire. She had a husband that loved her no matter what, even though he didn’t care how much money she had.
What about me? I had built my life on how things looked, but I learnt that looks can change.
That night, I discovered what it meant to lose something other than money.
Since that day, my life has been altered. I stopped evaluating people based on how much money they made or what brand of shoes they wore.
I’ve learnt that a person’s true worth is in how they care for, cherish, and defend the person next to them.
You can start making money again. But if you lose a decent heart’s trust, love, and loyalty, you might never get them back.