Valentine's Day Love Story
"Lost and Found Love": A Short Story for English Learners
Theme: Valentine's Day, romance, love story, nostalgia, romantic, sentimental, sweat, heart-warming
Level: Advanced
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Table of Contents
2. "Lost and Found Love" Story
4. Answer Key
Story Glossary
absurdity: when something is very unlikely.
chase away: to make something disappear or go away.
chaos: complete disorder and confusion.
comfort: a pleasant feeling of relaxation.
diverge: to separate or go in different directions.
expand their horizons: to broaden their experiences and knowledge by exploring new things and ideas.
hit it off: to get along well from the start.
face it head-on: to deal with a difficult situation directly and without hesitation.
familiarity: when someone is familiar or comfortable with a place, situation, or person.
irony: when something is very different from what you expect.
know someone inside out: to know someone very well, including their thoughts, feelings, habits, and personality. It means to have a deep and complete understanding of someone.
leading someone on: giving someone false hope or encouragement about a romantic relationship.
lost touch: lost contact or connection with someone or something.
pier: a long platform that sticks out into a body of water. People can walk on it to enjoy the view, fish, etc.
preoccupied: busy thinking about something and unable to focus on other things.
settle (in someone's heart): to become deeply present in someone's emotions.
simmered: stayed just below the surface, like boiling water that is not quite visible but still present and strong.
solitude: a state of being alone, away from other people.
stood still: remained in the same position and did not move.
subsided: lessened or became less powerful.
suffocating: causing to feel trapped in a situation, feeling like there is no escape.
taken aback: surprised or shocked.
tinged with: having a hint of something in the background.
vivid: easy to see or remember because it is so strong and clear.
wandering: When a person's mind is "wandering," it means that their thoughts are not focused and they are daydreaming or lost in thought.
Valentine's Day Love Story:
Lost and Found Love
They met in high school and it was love at first sight. They spent every moment they could together, and they were each other's first everything. They were each other's first love, first kiss, and first heartbreak.
Unfortunately, life had other plans for them and their paths diverged. They went to different colleges, took different career paths, and eventually lost touch with each other. They both moved on with their lives, but they never forgot about each other.
They had a great time together, working hard on advancing their careers, but also taking time to explore new destinations and expand their horizons.
Madison felt like she finally found the stability she had always been searching for.
So, when William proposed to her on a hot air balloon ride over the Grand Canyon, Madison couldn't help but say yes.
It was an incredible moment that she had always dreamed of, and everything seemed perfect.
It is unfortunate she had to find it out so abruptly at their Valentine's Day dinner.
Madison and William sat next to each other at a fancy restaurant by the pier, their table decorated with red roses and candlelight. It was supposed to be a romantic Valentine's Day dinner, but the mood quickly changed when William dropped a bomb on Madison.
"I got a job in another country," William said, "and I expect you to come with me."
Madison was taken aback. "What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
As William began describing his plans for them, Madison realized he went through weeks of interviews and negotiations, and took the job without consulting her or even mentioning it to her.
"I thought it would be a great opportunity for us," William continued. "We could start a new life together."
But Madison just sat there, staring away. Is this the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with? Sadly, she realized that she couldn't even consider it. She didn't love William enough to leave everything behind. She recognized she had done a huge mistake.
"I'm sorry, William," Madison said softly. "But I can't leave everything and follow you. And I don't think I love you the way I should."
With those words, Madison ended their relationship.
Blake, on the other hand, felt out of place.
He wasn't sure why he had agreed to come to this dinner in the first place. He looked around the room and thought about how much he wished he was somewhere else, anywhere else.
The guilt he felt was suffocating, as he knew deep down that he didn't love Monique the way she deserved.
As they ordered their food, Blake tried to push the thoughts out of his head, and instead focus on the present moment. But it was no use, his mind kept wandering back to the past and the love he once had with Madison.
He realized that the reason he had been with Monique was because she reminded him of Madison. He couldn't understand why today of all nights these thoughts would not leave him alone. Nevertheless, that was the reality he faced.
~ ~ ~
The sound of the waves and the view of the moonlit ocean created a romantic ambiance. This made it even worse.
Finally, he decided to speak up and tell Monique the truth. That he was still in love with Madison, even though it had been years since they had seen each other.
Monique was heartbroken but she understood.
Blake felt terrible for hurting her, but he knew he couldn't continue with their relationship if he didn't have genuine feelings for her.
As they ended their dinner, Blake and Monique both knew that their relationship was over.
Blake felt a sense of relief, but also sadness for the hurt he had caused. He knew that he had to figure out what he really wanted in life, and how he was going to move on.
In the silence of the night, Blake walked Monique back to her car. He hugged her tightly and whispered that he was sorry, before watching her drive away.
He took a deep breath and looked out at the ocean. He knew he had a lot of work to do, but he was ready to face it head-on.
She had always been a hopeless romantic, but she was starting to believe that true love only exists in fairy tales.
She thought about all the times she had believed in the idea of forever, and how this latest relationship had failed her.
As she walked, she couldn't help but think about the past and the love she had shared with Blake. It felt like a lifetime ago, but the memories were still so vivid in her mind.
Madison sighed and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to chase away the chill that had settled in her heart.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even notice Blake standing a few feet away, until he spoke.
"Madison?" His voice was soft and filled with emotion.
She looked up and their eyes locked. In that moment, it was as if time had stood still. The love and friendship that had once been between them still simmered just below the surface.
Neither of them spoke for a moment, and then Madison whispered, "Blake?"
Blake's thoughts were similar to Madison's, as he too has just gone through a breakup. He was grateful for the solitude of the pier. But as he approached Madison, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and comfort.
~ ~ ~
Blake was the first to speak. "Madison, is that really you?"
Madison nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.
They both stood there for a moment, taking in the absurdity of the situation. And then, as if on cue, they both burst into laughter.
As their laughter subsided, Blake reached for Madison's hand, and she willingly gave it to him.
They started walking down the pier, hand in hand, and as they do, they both realized that their love for each other never truly died, it was just lost in the chaos of life. And now, on this Valentine's Day, it has been found once again.
THE END
Click here for additional stories for advanced English learners.
(You can get this eBook and many others as part of our Best Deal: Full Package of All Store Products + Bonuses.)
Comprehension Questions
1) Why did Madison and Blake break up?
A. Madison was in love with someone else
B. Blake was not rich enough for Madison's family.
C. Circumstances beyond their control separated them.
2) Where did Madison and Blake meet?
A. In high school
B. In College
C. At work
3) How much time has passed before Madison got engaged to William?
A. 5 years.
B. 10 years.
C. 3 months.
4) Where did William propose to Madison?
A. On a hot air balloon ride over the Grand Canyon
B. In a restaurant by the pier
C. At a beach in Mexico
5) Why did Madison break up with William?
A. He was too possessive for her taste
B. He cheated on her with her best friend.
C. She realized she didn't love William the way she should have.
6) Why was Blake with Monique?
A. He was trying to make Madison jealous.
B. She reminded him of Madison.
C. She was very rich.
7) How did Monique react when Blake told her the truth?
A. She slapped him.
B. She ran away.
C. She understood.
8) On what day did Madison and Blake find each other again?
A. Christmas Day
B. Valentine's Day
C. Independence Day
9) How does the story end?
A. Madison and Blake move to Paris.
B. Madison and William reconcile their differences.
C. Madison and Blake continue walking down the pier, hand in hand.
10) What do Madison and Blake discover on the pier?
A. That their love never truly died, it was just lost in the chaos of life.
B. That they have grown apart and the love is no longer there.
C. That too many years have passed and they should not be together.
Answer Key
1) C
2) A
3) B
4) A
5) C
6) B
7) C
8) B
9) C
10) A
