Title: A Heart Full of Regret

Hannah stood alone on the balcony, staring out into the night. She could hear the distant sound of laughter and music from the party down below, but it all seemed far away, separated from her by an invisible barrier. Her heart was heavy with regret, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had made a terrible mistake.

Earlier that night, she had spoken to Mark, her ex-boyfriend, for the first time in months. They had broken up after a particularly nasty fight, and Hannah had been convinced that she was better off without him. But now, seeing him again, all the old feelings had come flooding back.

Mark had seemed surprised to see her at the party, but he had been friendly enough. They had chatted for a few minutes, catching up on each other's lives, and Hannah had felt a spark of excitement. Was it possible that they could get back together? Could they put the past behind them and start fresh?

But then Mark had mentioned his new girlfriend, and Hannah's heart had plummeted. She had forced a smile and made polite conversation, but inside she was seething with jealousy and regret. Why had she let him go? Why had she been so stubborn and foolish?

Now, alone on the balcony, Hannah couldn't help but replay the conversation in her head. She could hear the warmth in Mark's voice as he talked about his new love, the way his eyes lit up with excitement. And she couldn't help but wonder: what if he had looked at her like that? What if it had been her by his side all these months, instead of someone else?

Tears stung her eyes, and she wiped them away angrily. She was being ridiculous, she told herself. She had made her decision, and she had to live with the consequences. But in her heart, she knew that she would always regret letting Mark go.

Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder, and Hannah jumped, startled. It was Mark, looking concerned. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

Hannah took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said flatly. "Just needed some fresh air, I guess."

Mark didn't say anything for a moment, and Hannah could feel his eyes on her. "Listen," he said finally. "I know we didn't work out, but...you were important to me, you know? And I don't want there to be any hard feelings between us."

Hannah felt a surge of emotion at his words, and she turned to face him. "I know," she said quietly. "I feel the same way."

There was a long pause, and Hannah could feel her heart beating faster. Was this it? Was he going to tell her he still loved her?

But then Mark stepped back, his face falling into a polite smile. "Well, I should get back to the party," he said. "It was good to see you, Hannah."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving Hannah standing alone on the balcony once again. She let out a ragged breath, feeling like she had just missed out on something incredible.

Regret was a heavy weight on her heart, but it was one she knew she would have to carry for a long time. She turned back to the night sky, feeling small and lost in the face of her own emotions. But even in the midst of the pain, she knew that there was a small glimmer of hope. Maybe someday, things would be different. Maybe someday, she would find a way to make things right. For now, all she could do was try to find some peace in the midst of the storm.