There was a time when Antonio loved me more than anyone else in the world.
All through our four years of college, she was the person who believed in me, encouraged me, and stood by me through exams, stress, and late-night ramen dinners. She was sweet, endlessly patient, and her love for me never wavered.

But the world beyond campus is not as forgiving as a college romance. And when we graduated, life began to pull us in opposite directions.

I was offered a lucrative position at a multinational corporation in Mexico City almost immediately after tossing my graduation cap in the air. Antonio, on the other hand, struggled. She spent months sending out résumés before finally landing a modest job as a receptionist at a small community clinic.

At the time, I didn’t just see the difference — I fixated on it.

Choosing Money Over Love
Back then, I was convinced I was destined for more. I told myself I “deserved better” than a partner who earned so little. The truth was uglier: I was chasing status.

So I did the cruelest thing.

I left Antonio. And not just for anyone — I left her for the CEO’s daughter, someone whose last name opened doors faster than any business degree.

Antonio cried that day. She clutched my arm, begged me to stay, her voice breaking with every word. But I didn’t waver. I had already decided she wasn’t “enough” for the life I imagined.

A Marriage That Wasn’t a Dream
Five years later, I had climbed to the position of assistant sales manager. I had the polished suits, the corporate title, the business card embossed in gold.

But my personal life? It was a cold, lonely battlefield.