Alfred, the lonely Golf Senior

Alfred had spent many happy years with his beloved Karin. Together, they successfully raised their children until, one tragic day, Karin was suddenly taken from him in a terrible accident. A reckless driver shattered their happiness, transforming Alfred from a cheerful man into a bitter recluse. Alfred lost his will to live and, for a long time, struggled to manage his daily routine. He belonged to a generation that had never needed to run a household—first cared for by his mother, and later by Karin, who lovingly took over that role.

Since his wife’s passing, Alfred withdrew deeper into his grief and solitude. He spent most of his days alone at the golf course, not out of enjoyment, but simply to escape the suffocating loneliness of his empty home. Over time, he became increasingly withdrawn and irritable. His replies grew short, his gaze inward, and soon his fellow club members learned to accept that Alfred preferred solitude.

Despite the well-intentioned efforts of his golf companions, Alfred remained isolated. Modern dating methods were foreign to him, and the personal ads in the golf magazine irritated him greatly. "They're just looking for a wealthy man to pay for travel and entertainment," he often muttered to himself.

One sunny morning, as Alfred silently and moodily prepared his tee shot, his eyes fell upon an elegant older woman standing with her friends at the starter's hut, preparing to play behind him. Something about her felt oddly familiar, her charming laughter stirring feelings long forgotten. Her smile and the dimples on her cheeks transported Alfred back to a distant past, yet he couldn’t recall exactly where he'd seen her before. Throughout the entire round, he pondered, "Do I know her? Never seen her at the club before. Should I talk to her? How?" These thoughts disturbed him so much that his game suffered.

After the round, he quickly cleaned and stored his clubs, then hurried to his usual spot in the clubhouse restaurant. His mind kept drifting back to the attractive woman, and he secretly hoped she would also visit the restaurant after finishing her game. Sure enough, minutes later she entered with her friends and took a seat at a nearby table. Alfred, captivated by her presence, scarcely dared to glance her way. Between sips of beer, he tentatively made eye contact. Her warm, welcoming smile in return touched Alfred deeply and made him blush slightly.

Her friends noticed the subtle exchange and whispered among themselves, casting curious glances at Alfred, making him increasingly nervous. He felt as awkward and uncertain as a schoolboy on his first date.

Alfred took a closer look at her: slender, attractive, dressed elegantly, with silver-streaked, stylishly parted medium-length hair. Her pearl necklace gave her a timeless elegance, painfully reminding him of Karin.

Suddenly, the mysterious woman stood up. Her friends smiled encouragingly as she confidently walked toward Alfred.

"Alfred? Is it really you?" she asked with astonishment but genuine warmth. Alfred was momentarily stunned but soon recognized her: Charlotte, his childhood friend who had emigrated with her family long ago.

"Charlotte! It’s really you!" he exclaimed happily, spontaneously offering her a seat beside him. "How did you get here? Can I offer you something?"

They spent hours catching up, exchanging stories from their lives. After the passing of her husband, a successful businessman, Charlotte had returned to Switzerland as a wealthy widow, seeking to reconnect with her roots. Neither had sought new love, yet their reunion felt like fate.

Gradually, a tender love blossomed between them, reminding them both that life, even in later years, holds unexpected joys. Alfred realized Cupid’s arrow had struck him directly in the heart—and this time, he felt certain, it was a perfect shot.

©thomasvonriedt2025

Image by Dall-e