*How Could You, Behind My Back*
“Hello, Marianna. How long has it been? Fifteen years? Or more?”
“Probably more. But you haven’t changed a bit.”
“And you have. You’ve grown even more beautiful.”
Valerie studied the face of her once-best friend, unable to believe they had really crossed paths again. Not just seen each other in passing—their children had just had their first trial dance class at the same studio, and now here they were, face to face in the lobby.
“Thanks, Val,” Marianna replied with a faint smile.
She wanted to return the compliment, but the right words wouldn’t come. They had all dried up over a decade ago, the last time they’d spoken. That final conversation had been painful, complicated, and Marianna still shuddered at the memory.
“Which one’s yours?” Valerie asked. “A boy or girl?”
“I have a daughter,” Marianna said. “Veronica. She’s ten. And you?”
“Mine’s a girl too. Just turned nine. Is she… from Edward? Did you two ever marry?”
Marianna stared at Valerie in disbelief. After all these years, did she still believe her best friend would ever steal the man she loved—let alone marry him? So much time had passed, yet Valerie seemed unchanged, frozen in that old resentment.
“Let’s grab a coffee downstairs. We can sit, have a drink, and talk.”
Valerie hesitated, clearly uneasy at the idea of spending time with the woman she’d once seen as a rival. But after a brief pause, she nodded. After all, so many years had passed. They’d both moved on, built their own lives—why keep clinging to a grudge that no longer mattered?
“Alright.”
They descended in silence, stealing glances when the other wasn’t looking. Both were curious about how life had treated the other, but neither wanted to acknowledge the past directly.
They chatted—about nothing, about everything. Valerie mentioned she’d returned to their hometown two years ago when her mother fell ill. Her husband, Ian, had agreed to the move, though it hadn’t been easy.
“He’s wonderful,” she said. “Kind, thoughtful. I’m so lucky to have him.”
Marianna smiled. So Valerie had found happiness after all. A good husband, a daughter—maybe she wasn’t still angry? But then, barely a minute later, the same old question resurfaced:
“And you? Did you marry Edward? Have his child? Are you happy with him?”
Marianna winced. Why did life have to be so messy? Two girls who had played together in the sandpit, shared classrooms, secrets, dreams—only for their friendship to be shattered over something they hadn’t even done. Marianna had always assumed Valerie had figured out the truth eventually. Yet here she was, still convinced Marianna had built her happiness on Valerie’s misery.
“Val, do you honestly still believe something happened between me and Edward? We talked back then. I tried to explain. I thought you understood—you were just too hurt to admit it.”
Valerie pursed her lips—a habit Marianna remembered from childhood. Whenever Valerie was upset, or lost an argument, those lips would tighten, making her look like a stubborn little girl all over again.
“I didn’t think about you at all,” Valerie lied, her voice sharp. “I’ve had my own life.”
“You’ve spent years believing I married him, that I stole your happiness, and now you’re trying to convince me you never even thought about us?”
A crooked smirk flickered across Valerie’s face before she looked away. Marianna watched her, searching for any sign that the past had truly been buried.
“I mean it,” Valerie insisted. “That last conversation… I cut you both out. And your ‘nothing happened’ story? Always sounded like a lie.”
“So you never forgave me,” Marianna realized with a pang. She pulled out her phone, scrolled through her gallery, then handed it to Valerie.
“Look. That’s my husband, Victor. The same awkward Vic Saunders you used to laugh at, remember? The ‘nerdy, boring’ one.”
Valerie’s eyes widened as she zoomed in on the photos. A faint smile tugged at her lips before disbelief took over.
“You actually married Saunders? I thought you were joking when you said you liked him. And your daughter—she’s his?”
Marianna nodded. “A daughter and a son. Andrew’s nearly thirteen, Veronica’s ten. I’m happy, Val—just like you. And I never had anything with your Edward. He made it all up to drive us apart—and to get out of your relationship.”
Valerie’s lips thinned again. Marianna felt frustration boiling over. How long would they keep reliving this? Their friendship could have lasted a lifetime if not for Edward’s meddling.
They had met at five, neighbors in the same row of terraced houses. A fight over a doll had nearly ended things before they began, but Marianna’s mother had stepped in. “You can’t take what isn’t yours,” she’d said. Valerie had burst into tears, ashamed—until Marianna silently handed her the doll.
“Go on. You can play with her.”
Valerie had stared at her through teary eyes, stunned by the kindness. From then on, they were inseparable. Same nursery, same school, same university.
Then, in their second year, Edward had transferred in. Valerie had fallen hard and fast.
“Marianna! I’m in love!” she’d gushed a week later. “He’s perfect!”
Marianna had been happy for her. But then things soured. Valerie grew sharp, accusing Marianna of flirting, of stealing his attention—even though Marianna was with Vic, a man Valerie had openly mocked.
Then Edward confessed to Marianna—on New Year’s Eve, of all times.
“You’re dating Val. What’s this about?”
He’d smirked. “Dating? We hooked up a couple times. Doesn’t mean anything.”
Disgust had twisted in Marianna’s stomach. Handsome, wealthy, clever—but with no decency to match.
“You think I’d betray my best friend like that?”
“She’s in love?” he’d snorted. “More like she’s obsessed.”
Marianna had thrown him out.
The next morning, Valerie had stormed in, screaming.
“How could you? You knew I loved him! You knew we were together, and you still went behind my back!”
Marianna had been speechless.
“Val—what are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb! Edward told me everything! How you came to him, said you didn’t believe in us! You threw yourself at him!”
“That’s not true!”
The slap had come without warning. Valerie’s voice had been venomous.
“I’m pregnant. And he doesn’t care—because of you. I hate you.”
Marianna had tried to explain, but Valerie was already gone. She’d left town, vanished from Marianna’s life—until today.
“You never let me explain,” Marianna said softly now. “You never wanted to hear the truth. I knew Edward was rotten, but I kept quiet—because I knew how much you loved him.”
Valerie checked her watch, standing abruptly.
“Class is almost over. Let’s get the girls.”
They waited outside the dance studio in silence.
“Are you still angry?” Valerie asked suddenly. “About the slap?”
Marianna shook her head.
“No. You were upset, hormonal. The only thing I regret is that we never talked properly. Fifteen years of carrying this around.”
Valerie turned, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“You know what I’m thinking?”
“What?”
“If not for Edward… I’d never have met Ian. Never had my daughter. Never had this life.”
Marianna smiled back, waving as Veronica ran toward her. Valerie’s daughter followed—a perfect little copy of her mother.
“What do you say to taking the girls to the park this weekend?” Valerie asked.
Marianna agreed, surprised but willing.
Their friendship would never be what it was. But at least the weight of the past was finally lifting. And that was better than nothing.
