The One Left by E. V. Lucas (1901)
A woman deeply devoted to her ill fiancé installs a telephone at his bedside, allowing them to maintain a connection during his final weeks. Despite his eventual death, her love for him transforms into a lasting devotion, as she continues to live by his ideals and preferences. His absence leaves her heartbroken, yet she finds solace in the memory of their bond. The profound loss leads her to question the nature of existence and the abrupt end of a life filled with kindness and wisdom. Struggling with her grief, she abandons her previous beliefs, embracing her sorrow as both a burden and a source of joy. For over a year, she keeps his house empty, unable to let anyone else inhabit the space that holds their shared memories, preserving his room exactly as it was at the time of his death. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, and the struggle to reconcile with the absence of a cherished partner, highlighting the emotional turmoil that accompanies profound grief and the search for meaning in the aftermath of loss.
By E. V. Lucas · First published 1901 · Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller · 4 chapters
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV