Foreword:
Promisesareeasytomakebuthardtokeep.Weoftenmakepromiseswithoutfullyunderstandingtheconsequencesthatcomewiththem.Andwhenwefailtokeepourpromises,theimpactonotherscanbedevastating.Thisisastoryabouttheweightofpromises,andhowoneperson'sdecisiontobreakthemchangedthelivesofthosearoundhim.
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Johnwasayoungmanwithbigdreams.Hehadjustgraduatedfromcollegeandwaseagertostarthiscareer.Oneday,hemetSarah,abeautifulandintelligentwomanwhostolehisheart.Theyfellinlovequicklyandbeforelong,Johnknewhewantedtospendtherestofhislifewithher.
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JohnandSarahtalkedabouttheirfuturetogetherandmadeapromisetoeachotherthattheywouldalwayssupporteachother'sdreams.JohnpromisedtobethereforSarahasshepursuedhercareerasadoctor,andSarahpromisedtodothesameforJohnasheworkedhiswayupthecorporateladder.
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Atfirst,everythingwasgoingaccordingtoplan.JohnlandedagreatjobataprestigiousfirmandSarahwasacceptedintomedicalschool.Butastimewenton,Johnbegantofeelunsatisfiedwithhisjob.Hewantedmoremoneyandmorepower,andhewaswillingtodowhateverittooktogetit.
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Oneday,Johnwaspresentedwithanopportunitythatcouldchangehislife.Hewasofferedajobatarivalcompanythatpromisedhimmoremoney,moreresponsibility,andmorepowerthanhecouldeverimagine.JohnknewthattakingthejobwouldmeanbreakinghispromisetoSarah,buthewasconvincedthatitwasworthit.
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JohntookthejobwithouttellingSarah.Heconvincedhimselfthathewasdoingitforbothofthem,thattheextramoneyhewouldmakewouldallowthemtohaveabetterlifetogether.Butdeepdown,heknewhewaslyingtohimself.
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Sarahwasoverjoyedwhenshefoundoutthatshehadbeenacceptedintoaprestigiousresidencyprogram.Shecouldn'twaittotellJohnandsharethegoodnewswithhim.Butwhenshecamehomethatnight,Johnwasdistantanddistracted.Hebarelylistenedasshetoldhimaboutheracceptance,andSarahcouldn'thelpbutfeelhurtandconfused.
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Overthenextfewweeks,SarahnoticedthatsomethingwasoffwithJohn.Hewasalwaysworkinglateandseemedtobeavoidingher.Shetriedtotalktohimaboutit,buthewouldjustbrushheroffandtellherhewasbusy.
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Oneday,SarahdecidedtosurpriseJohnatworkwithlunch.Whenshearrived,shefoundhiminhisofficewithanotherwoman.Theywerelaughingandjokingtogetherlikeoldfriends.Sarahfeltapangofjealousyandanger.
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JohnintroducedSarahtothewomanashisnewboss.Hetoldherabouthisnewjobandhowexcitedhewasfortheopportunityitpresented.SarahfeltaknotforminherstomachassherealizedwhatJohnhaddone.Hehadbrokenhispromisetoher.
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SarahtriedtotalktoJohnaboutitthatnight,butherefusedtolisten.Hetoldherthathehadtodowhatwasbestforthem,thattheextramoneyhewasmakingwouldallowthemtolivethelifetheyhadalwaysdreamedof.Sarahknewthatitwasn'ttrue,thatJohnwasjustusingitasanexcusetojustifyhisactions.
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Astimewenton,SarahbegantoresentJohnforbreakinghispromise.Sheworkedlonghoursatthehospital,puttingeverythingshehadintoherjob,whileJohnwasoutlateeverynightentertainingclientsandclimbingthecorporateladder.Theirrelationshipbecamestrained,andSarahcouldn'thelpbutfeellikeJohnhadbetrayedher.
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Oneday,Johncamehomeearlyfromwork.Hewasdrunkandslurringhiswords.HetoldSarahthathehadbeenfired,thatthecompanyhadfoundouthehadbeenstealingfromthem.Sarahwasshockedanddevastated.Shecouldn'tbelievethatthemanshehadoncelovedhadbecomesomeonewhowoulddosomethingsodishonest.
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JohntriedtoapologizetoSarah,butshecouldn'tbringherselftoforgivehim.Hisactionshaddestroyedtheirrelationshipanddamagedhertrustinhim.Sherealizedthatpromiseswerenotsomethingtobetakenlightly,thattheconsequencesofbreakingthemcouldbedire.
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Sarahmovedoutoftheirapartmentandfiledfordivorce.Shefocusedonherworkandherstudies,determinedtomakealifeforherselfwithoutJohn.Sheknewthatitwouldn'tbeeasy,butshewaswillingtodowhateverittooktoachieveherdreams.
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Yearswentby,andSarahbecameasuccessfuldoctor.Shemetsomeonenewandfellinloveagain,thistimewithamanwhorespectedherandvaluedherforwhoshewas.John,ontheotherhand,neverfullyrecoveredfromhismistake.Hestruggledtofindworkandwasconstantlyplaguedbyguiltandregret.
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Oneday,JohnranintoSarahatacoffeeshop.Hewasnervoustoapproachher,butSarahwasfriendlyandpolite.Theytalkedforafewminutesabouttheirlivesandhowthingshadchanged.Johnapologizedagainforwhathehaddone,andSarahforgavehim.
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Astheysaidgoodbye,Sarahcouldn'thelpbutfeelsadforwhatcouldhavebeen.IfJohnhadkepthispromise,theirlivescouldhavebeendifferent.Butshealsoknewthatsometimes,theonlywaytolearntheweightofpromisesistobreakthemandsuffertheconsequences.
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Johnleftthecoffeeshopfeelingasenseofclosure.Heknewthathehadmadeamistake,buthealsoknewthathehadlearnedfromit.Herealizedthatpromiseswerenotjustwords,butactions,andthatbreakingthemcouldhavefar-reachingconsequences.
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Johnspenttherestofhislifetryingtomakeamendsforhismistake.Hevolunteeredatacharityorganizationandworkedhardtogivebacktohiscommunity.Heknewthathecouldneverfullymakeupforwhathehaddone,buthewasdeterminedtotry.
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Sarahwentontoliveafullandhappylife,surroundedbypeoplewholovedandrespectedher.Sheneverforgotthelessonsshehadlearnedabouttheweightofpromises,andshemadesuretoalwayskeepherword,nomatterhowdifficultitmightbe.
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Intheend,JohnandSarah'sstoryisareminderthatpromisesarenotjustwords,butactions.Theyhavethepowertoshapeourlivesandthelivesofthosearoundus.Andwhenwebreakthem,wemustbepreparedtofacetheconsequences.
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Sothenexttimeyoumakeapromise,thinkcarefullyabouttheweightitcarries.Considertheimpactitcouldhaveonothersandaskyourselfifyouaretrulycommittedtokeepingit.Becausesometimes,apromiseismorethanjustapromise.It'sachoicethatcanchangeeverything.
