A phrase from the 18th century that hides a painful tragedy that should never have happened.

The phrase "Ladies First" is one of the most commonly used expressions in daily courtesies, whether it's entering through doors, serving food, or even in the simplest actions of daily life. This phrase is often considered a sign of politeness, good manners, sophistication, and respect, without us realizing that behind these kind words lies a tragic, forgotten story from the 18th century, which ended up becoming a phrase said today out of courtesy and respect for women.

The story begins in a European city, where a rich young man fell in love with a poor girl. It was a sincere love, but it collided with the wall of traditions, family, and the class-based outlook that prevailed in societies at the time. The young man's family strongly rejected this marriage, not because the girl was bad, but simply because she was not of the same social standing as the young man and had neither inheritance nor status.

After many attempts by the young man to convince his father of the rightness of his actions, the father insisted on rejecting the idea outright. All the young man's attempts failed, so the two lovers decided to escape this reality and agreed to commit suicide together, as these customs were not alien to romantic love in that era.

The two lovers stood together on the edge of a high cliff. The young man looked at her and said: "Let's die together," but he didn't know that this moment would be the end of his love story and the end of his life.

He agreed with his beloved on the moment to jump, closed his eyes, and threw himself into the abyss. But his beloved hesitated, got scared, and did not jump, returning from where she came.

Everyone learned the story of the two lovers, and that the girl had not committed suicide but had married another man. Since then, people became accustomed to saying "Ladies First," not out of politeness or respect, but out of fear and anticipation of last-minute betrayal.

Over time, the details of this story faded, and only the phrase remained, transforming from bitter sarcasm into a social courtesy, and then becoming a rule of conduct in all Western societies, and then throughout the entire world.

The story was forgotten, but the phrase remained, and over time, it became a symbol of sophistication and respect. But behind every compliment said today, hides the shadow of a young man who loved sincerely, sacrificed everything, and paid the price alone.

Historically, this story could be a legend, passed down by people as a folk tale, but it nevertheless sheds light on the way tragedies transform into customs, and misfortunes into daily behaviors.

Thus, whenever you say "Ladies First", remember that words are not always innocent... They were born from the womb of a story whose heroes were two, but whose end was written by only one.