Chapter 1: The Weight of Regret

Reflecting on a voicemail received over a decade ago still sends shivers down my spine. The sound of that voice lingers in my mind.

I anticipated hearing a voicemail waiting for me when I woke. I had silenced my phone and turned off the vibration, hoping to avoid any interruptions. The thought of confronting the inevitable awkward phone call during the night was unbearable.

In a foreign bed, with the occupant in the shower, I listened to the message alone.

“Richard… please come home.”

Just as I had suspected. This was likely a factor in my restless night. I was lying next to someone I shouldn’t have been, while the effects of the previous night’s drinking were still lingering.

A sense of regret was expected, yet I felt oddly detached from any emotions. Was it the alcohol still clouding my judgment? Or was it an unwillingness to confront the reality of my actions?

What have I done? The consequences were too daunting to consider.

The prior evening had been the result of months of flirtation with a colleague. I never thought it would escalate to this point, dismissing it as harmless fun while knowing it was wrong—an immature mindset.

This was the classic scenario of a chef and waitress getting involved, a common occurrence in the hospitality world. However, this was not my usual behavior. I was in a long-term relationship, albeit a troubled one. Cheating had never crossed my mind until it did, revealing my inability to resist temptation.

I was too weak to refuse, too scared to end things with my partner, and too fearful of the fallout. Instead, I chose to drown my worries in alcohol and take the easy way out.

There's a saying that short-term pleasure often leads to long-term pain.

The next morning, I packed my belongings, but by then, it was too late. I should have made that decision without guilt or the additional pain my actions inflicted.

Those four words have haunted me for the last 16 years.

From time to time, I remember my ex-partner and that night when I failed to return home. Her voice echoes in my memory, filled with hurt and uncertainty. I can’t recall the entire voicemail, but those four words are etched in my mind.

Each time I replay them, I feel small and weak, just as I did back then.

If you need to act, speak up, or make a decision—do it. Avoid playing games with others; such behavior is for children.

Difficult choices lead to a simpler life.

Section 1.1: The Impact of Choices

In moments of temptation, it’s easy to lose sight of the long-term consequences. The choices we make in fleeting moments can leave a lasting imprint.

Subsection 1.1.1: The Echo of the Past

Photo by taylor on Unsplash

Chapter 2: Reflections Through Music

The first video, "Little Do You Know" by Alex & Sierra, encapsulates the struggle of hidden emotions and unexpressed feelings, resonating with the theme of regret and longing.

The second video, "TERRIFYING Voicemail Received... TRUE Viral Scary Story," explores the unsettling impact of messages that linger, much like the voicemail that haunts me.