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The sting of betrayal had dulled over the year but had not vanished. George had tried to bury the pain, to cover it with layers of distraction. Regardless, the scar remained like a constant, unwelcome reminder of the night his world had shattered.

It was Christmas Eve. The city was a glittering mirage of lights and tinsel, a stark contrast to the icy landscape of his heart. He was in a crowded bar, where noise and alcohol could temporarily drown out the echoes of the past. But as the night wore on, the crowd thinned, and the echoes grew louder.

"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special."

Last year, George had been here, brimming with the hope and joy that only Christmas can ignite. With her infectious laugh and eyes that held galaxies, Audrey had been by his side. They had been the picture-perfect couple, their love story a fairytale waiting to unfold. Until the fairytale ended abruptly and cruelly.

He remembered the night with a clarity that was both a torment and a shield. They had been at a Christmas party, the room a kaleidoscope of laughter and music. George had felt invincible, the king of his own world. Then he had seen them. Audrey and Daniel, who he had previously thought of as a harmless coworker, were now entwined in a passionate and intense embrace. The world had tilted on its axis.

The betrayal had been a seismic event, tearing through his life like a hurricane. The George before Audrey had been a man of quiet confidence, someone who believed in the enduring power of love. The George after Audrey was a ghost of his former self, a man haunted by the specter of heartbreak.

He took another drink, the fiery liquid burning down his throat. It was a temporary reprieve, a numbing agent against the pain. But the numbness was wearing thin.

"Once bitten and twice shy

I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye

Tell me, baby, do you recognise me?'

Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me

"Happy Christmas," I wrapped it up and sent it

With a note saying, "I love you," I meant it

Now I know what a fool I've been

But if you kissed me now, I know you'd fool me again."

The air was filled with a gentle melody as the familiar "Last Christmas" drifted through the surroundings. It was a song that had become a cruel soundtrack to his life. He closed his eyes, the lyrics a dagger twisting in his heart.

He could almost see Audrey's face, her eyes filled with a counterfeit sorrow. The words were a mockery, a painful reminder of the promises broken. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. Someone special? He was not sure he believed in that anymore. To him, love was a dangerous game, a minefield of heartbreak.

"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Oh, oh, baby."

The melody stopped, and with it, the brief respite. He was alone again, a solitary figure in a crowded room. And as the clock ticked closer to midnight, he knew he had to face the truth. He could not spend another Christmas haunted by the ghost of his past.

The morning after Christmas, George woke up with a hangover and a sense of resolve. It was time to move on. It was time to stop being a prisoner of the past.

He spent the day cleaning his apartment. It was a symbolic gesture, a way of purging himself of the remnants of his old life. As he discarded the worn photographs and cherished love letters, he experienced an unfamiliar feeling of freedom and release.

In the evening, he decided to go for a walk. The city was quiet, and the post-Christmas lull created an atmosphere of peace. As he walked, he thought about the future. He did not know what it held, but he was determined to make it something different, something better.

A few days later, he started volunteering at a local animal shelter. The unconditional love of the dogs was a balm to his wounded soul. There was something incredibly healing about caring for creatures who depended on him.

Slowly but surely, George began to rebuild his life. He focused on his career, throwing himself into work with renewed vigor. He made new friends, people who did not know about Audrey, people who saw him for who he was now, not who he had been.

It was not easy. There were days when the pain of the past would resurface, days when he would question his ability to ever be happy again. But he persevered, reminding himself that every day was a step forward.

It was a year since Audrey had betrayed him. The pain was still there, but it was a dull ache now rather than a sharp, stabbing wound. George had learned to live with it and incorporate it into the tapestry of his life without letting it define him.

He was at a Christmas party, the same kind of party where his world had imploded a year ago. But this time, he felt different. He was surrounded by friends and people who cared about him, and he felt a sense of peace and contentment.

"A crowded room, friends with tired eyes

I'm hiding from you and your soul of ice

My God, I thought you were someone to rely on

Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on

A face of a lover with a fire in his heart

A man undercover, but you tore me apart

Ooh-ooh

Now I've found a real love, you'll never fool me again."

As he mingled with the crowd, he caught sight of her. Audrey was there, looking stunning as always. She was with a new man, a tall, confident-looking guy who seemed to hang on her every word.

A pang of jealousy shot through George, but he quickly suppressed it. He had moved on. He had found happiness. He did not need to let the past consume him.

He raised his glass and took a sip of champagne. Looking around the room, he realized he was surrounded by people who loved him and cared about his happiness. He was no longer a victim but a survivor.

And as the clock struck midnight, marking the beginning of a new year, George made a silent promise to himself. He would never let anyone break his heart again. He would cherish the love he had found and never take it for granted. Because, in the end, love was about giving, not taking. And he was ready to give his heart again, but this time, to someone who deserved it.

"A face on a lover with a fire in his heart

I gave you my heart

A man undercover, but you tore him apart

Maybe next year

I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special."

The song "Last Christmas" faded into the background, replaced by laughter and clinking glasses. George smiled a genuine smile that came from deep within. It was a new beginning, and he was ready for it.

The night was winding down. The music had softened, the crowd thinned, and a comfortable buzz filled the room. George was standing by the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned, and there she was, Audrey.

She looked different and more mature, with a hint of unfamiliar sadness in her eyes. Her once vibrant aura seemed dimmed, replaced by a softer, more subdued glow.

"George," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

He nodded, his throat suddenly dry. The room seemed to shrink, focusing solely on the two of them. A decade of silence stretched between them, a chasm filled with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

"It's been a long time," she said, trembling slightly.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice as steady as he could manage.

They stood there, locked in a silent battle, each a ghost of their former selves. The music played on, a distant melody in the background.

"I'm sorry," she said finally, her voice barely audible over the music.

George's heart skipped a beat. It was the first time she had apologized. But the words felt hollow, like a half-hearted attempt at redemption.

"For what?" he asked, his voice flat.

"For everything," she replied. "For hurting you. For breaking your heart."

He looked at her, searching for sincerity. There was a flicker of something in her eyes, a vulnerability he hadn't seen before. But it was too late. The damage had been done.

"It doesn't matter anymore," he said, trying to sound indifferent. "I've moved on."

She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I know," she said. "I've seen you. You look happy."

He forced a smile. "I am," he said.

There was a long silence. Then, Audrey took a step closer. "Can we talk?" she asked.

George hesitated. Part of him wanted to walk away, to put this chapter of his life behind him for good. But another part of him was curious. He wanted to know what had happened to her, what she had been through.

"Sure," he said finally.

They found a quiet corner of the room and sat down. At first, The conversation was stilted and filled with awkward pauses and forced laughter. But as they talked, the tension between them began to ease.

Audrey told him about her life since their breakup. She had moved to another city, gotten a new job, and started a new relationship. But it had not been easy. The guilt of what she had done to George had haunted her.

George listened quietly, his heart a complex mixture of empathy and resentment. He had forgiven her, but the pain of the past was still there, a constant reminder of what he had lost.

As they talked, they realized how much they had changed. They were no longer the young, impulsive people who had fallen madly in love. They were adults now, with their own lives and their own baggage.

"Special

Someone

Someone

I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special

Who give me something in return

I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone

Hold my heart and watch it burn

I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special

I thought you were here to stay

How could you love me for a day?

I thought you were someone special

I gave you my heart

I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone."

When they prepared to depart, they found themselves standing outside the club, enveloped by the crisp, chilly night air, which offered a striking juxtaposition to the cozy warmth of their conversation.

"It was good talking to you," Audrey said.

George nodded. "Yeah, it was."

They stood there for a moment, looking at each other. Then, without a word, they turned and walked away in opposite directions.

As George walked home, he felt a strange sense of peace. The encounter with Audrey had been a closure of sorts. It had brought back old wounds, but it had also helped him to heal.

He looked up at the night sky, the stars twinkling like distant promises. He had come a long way since that fateful Christmas. He had survived heartbreak, rebuilt his life, and found happiness. When jogging through the quiet streets, he realized the future was bright and full of possibilities.

"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

You gave it away

I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone."