Such a cold night felt even lonelier after that goodbye

Ivan had promised to return as soon as possible, but that supposed promise remained valid for 10 years, even though you didn't expect anything more.

You moved, made new friends, adopted new interests; you changed your life completely, leaving behind some things that were still part of your personality.

---

Nowadays.

You went out to do your weekly shopping, settling for the cheapest or the same old thing. As you passed by the cereal aisle, you picked up a box and checked the expiration date, noticing that the employees had erased and crossed out the information. The typical trick to make you buy without thinking that it would soon give you an upset stomach.

You put the box aside and chose a different brand, walking past a man who was choosing cereal that was too colorful for your taste. You felt a sudden pang in your chest that forced you to look back, contemplating the face of this man who seemed strangely familiar.

Same eyes, same nose, same hair, same absurd "Kiss" tattoo. But this one looked older... Beard, short hair, a bit of a belly... It couldn't be Ivan, right...?