He would always wait for her.

The name was unknown to him, he lacked a number, pictures were vague at best, and his memories weren’t sharp enough to let him conjure her face. But here was one thing he remembered very clearly.

A dozen years back, Ayan was navigating his way through a street bustling with life, right next to the university’s library. He literally bumped into someone—and out came a woman, warm and jovial, bursting into laughter. She effortlessly swept away the books that had come tumbling down. The fleeting encounter left him mesmerized. A part of him, that he wasn’t aware of, was waiting to be unleashed. And she whispered some words to him, ‘Her.’

“Your soulmate from a 30-second encounter?” was the go-to teasing line his friends would mock him with.

But through it all, Ayan waited.

In the world of publishing, he was living his life, working in different cities, and dating here and there. Everything felt boring and mundane. None of them felt like her. Everything ended, and the memory of their meeting grew stronger, proving just how captivating the fleeting encounter was.

Mira was stuffing clothes into her suitcase in preparation for moving back to a city that she had once attended for college. Recovering some old memories while also feeling some anticipation unfolded as she glanced towards an old diary of hers. The bookmark in it, which was frayed and worn, still marked the same page.

3rd March: I met someone today. I don’t know his name, but he smiled like we had known each other for a long time. Isn’t that strange?

No one knew about it and she naturally decided to keep it to herself. For years, she had thought about the moment, and even though it sounded foolish, it gave her some comfort. Once upon a time, she did believe in some odd kind of destiny—though life had since dismissed such “hard” ideas. Mostly, they lay submerged beneath the surface like silent echoes whispering vague thoughts from a life gone by.

Mira used to explore the city hoping to discover patches of the person that she used to know. While wandering aimlessly, she stumbled upon her old favorite storefront located next to a tea house and a florist. It was a quaint bookstore. Her fingers grazed the shelfs reminiscing about old memories and things she used to love.

“Looking for something?” a gentle voice inquired.

Mira turned and stood still.

Ayan had noticed her before she had fully turned around. The passage of time had changed some of her hair and perhaps added some finely etched lines around her eyes, but the warmth that seemed to hold the same, the calm hinting amusement in her features, had not altered.

“You…” she blinked muttering half-formed words.

“10 years ago, I dropped your books near the library,” he smiled softly.

“YOU remember?” she asked, her breath caught.

“Yes, I have been waiting for you.”

She chuckled “I thought I imagined you” through the strange, uninvited tears that had risen.

There was no concert of destiny that orchestrated dramatic events, no thunderous kiss, just two people remembering and reconnecting. Words poured like water with every coffee and giggle: the flow as refreshing as the early afternoon sun.

“Waiting for someone I barely met struck me as absurd,” said Ayan, “But I used to think I was being silly.”

“No, Mira said, you were right to wait.” And so they began: slowly. Changes endowed some wisdom and gentleness with age. Traditions of dinner and walks became rituals carved in time. Romance was not like the hurry of trains, rather calm like a river settled into its final path to the ocean.

And still both knew: This was always it.

As Ayan and Mira sat on her balcony overlooking the city, she leaned over and whispered, “What if we had missed this out forever?”

“We didn’t. That’s what matters,” Ayan said taking her hand.

A promise to wait for something that truly belongs to you is all some love stories need, and it all begins with a quiet and fleeting moment.

FAQs for “Adult Short Stories”

What are the best adult short stories exploring love and relationship?
Find stunning explored themes of mature love, missed connections, and second chances in relationships in the emotionally rich adult short stories.

Where can I read realism adult short stories for free?
Passionate and heartbreaking adult short stories can be found across various story blogs, eBook platforms, and websites for free.

In what ways do adult short stories differ from romance novels?
Putting them side to side, adult short stories are shorter in word count but richer in emotional depth and real-life complexities while romance novels tend to stretch these ideas over lengthy prose.

Can adult short stories sharpen the skills of someone writing romance fiction?
Absolutely, reading and analyzing adult short stories strengthens understanding in pacing, character development, and emotional storytelling which is critical in writing romance fiction.

Are adult short stories suitable for all audiences?
Most adult short stories focus on romance or have some emotional context, but they can also contain mature themes. To be on the safe side, reading the descriptions or summaries is always a good idea.