The Thing That Never Was

That's the whole point of tragedies. They're not supposed to have happy endings. A tragedy would not be called such if it wasn't tragic. Imagine what would happen to the greatest love story if Romeo didn't die and Juliet didn't kill herself. It would be one cheesy fairytale. And that's what makes a tragedy beautiful - when it's a thing that never was.

Say, two people who were supposed to be together (but circumstances wouldn't permit them) ended up together, it would no longer be called a tragedy. Maybe the guy was not brave enough because he was one hell of a coward to admit he had feelings for the girl. Maybe the girl became so hopeless because this guy seemed like he was giving her all the reasons in the world to hold on but wouldn't admit it so she gave up. She asked for the ultimatum. He said, "Go, you're free." and she believed him and never looked back. Maybe he said so because he thought it's what she wanted. And in the process, he gave up on what they nearly had. One tragic story. A thing that never was. It's a book-worthy, movie-worthy story.

But that's the thing. They're not supposed to be together because there would be no story if they did. Maybe whatever they felt for each other only worked because they knew they can't be together. I'm betting that if they did end up as a couple they would have a hard time adjusting with the different situation. They would no longer feel the thrill of pursuing someone or the anxiousness of not knowing and the fear that their secret would be revealed. These people only work out when they're not a couple. When they're tragic. When they're not meant to be. Or else they could just be characters of another cheesy love story: Boy meets Girl, they fall in love, there's a third party, even a fourth, they realize their mistake and get back together - POOF! Happily ever after.

Tragic stories? They're supposed to be tragic. Because after all the heartaches and all the confusion, they realize that they're wasting their time and they're not really meant for each other. They'll realize that they could have been something great but will no longer be. They'll realize there are other people in the world and that they'll eventually fall in love. But not with each other. And they'll have beautiful love stories far from the heartbreaks they felt when they were still in unrequited love from each other. It will be separate. Two separate stories. And it will no longer be tragic. It will be beautiful and they'll learn that there's only love and there's nothing to regret.