Emily had just left the office and was walking to her car in the parking lot. A light dusting of snow covered the bonnet and windscreen. She got in, turned on the heater to warm the cold interior, then flicked the wipers to clear the snowflakes away.
She pulled out into the traffic, but the roads were crawling—long waits at traffic lights, endless queues. It felt like every car in London had decided to be on this stretch at once. Passing a shopping centre, Emily decided to turn in, kill time until the rush hour eased, and maybe pick up some Christmas gifts along the way.
But the car park was packed, not a single free space left. She regretted turning in—she’d have been better off slowly moving forward in traffic than stuck here. Clearly, others had the same idea of waiting out the gridlock inside.
Then, in the rearview mirror, headlights flashed—an SUV was reversing out, giving up its spot for her.
The shopping centre was packed—hot, noisy, overwhelming. Emily unbuttoned her coat, loosened her scarf, and started browsing the aisles. The glitter of decorations, flashing fairy lights, and bustling crowds made her eyes ache. She dropped a few colourful baubles into her basket, a set of silver reindeer for the tree, a couple of Father Christmas towels in gift wrapping, and champagne flutes engraved with wishes for happiness and luck.
She’d figure out later what to give to whom. For her mother and husband, she’d buy something more substantial, but colleagues and friends would appreciate small, cheerful presents. Emily joined the queue at the till, exhausted by the noise, wishing she’d come tomorrow morning instead—when most people were still in bed.
Finally, it was her turn. As the cashier rang up the items, Emily winced—she’d grabbed far too much. Oh well, it’d all come in handy.
Bag in hand, she buttoned up her coat and adjusted her scarf, carefully weaving through the crowd to avoid crushing her purchases.
“Emily!”
At first, she didn’t register her name being called.
“Williams!”
Hearing her maiden name, she stopped. Shoppers bumped into her, nudging past, so she stepped aside, scanning the crowd for whoever had shouted.
“Hi, Emily.”
The voice came from beside her. She turned and saw a bearded man in a black beanie pulled low over his brow. He smiled, revealing a missing front tooth. His clothes hung loosely, scruffy and ill-fitting. She already regretted stopping—this man couldn’t possibly be someone she knew.
“Don’t recognise me?” he asked. “I knew it was you straight away. You look a million bucks.” He chuckled. There was something faintly familiar in his voice, but she couldn’t place him.
“We were in the same class at school.”
“Daniel?!” she gasped. She wanted to ask what had happened to him, how he’d ended up like this, but bit her tongue.
“That’s me,” he said with a grin, flashing the gap in his teeth again. “Changed a bit, eh?”
“Yeah,” Emily nodded. “What happened?” The question slipped out despite herself.
“Long story. Fancy a cuppa? There’s a café here.” His eyes were hopeful.
Emily couldn’t reconcile this man with the boy she’d known. The beard and ridiculous beanie must’ve thrown her off. This was Daniel—the boy she’d once been in love with, the one who’d broken her heart. Now, she was ashamed to be seen standing with him.
“Sorry, I really should go,” she said, glancing away as if searching for an escape among passing shoppers.
Daniel waited, still hopeful.
“Fine, but not for long,” she relented, more out of curiosity than any real desire to catch up.
His face lit up, and he eagerly led her to the café.
“Come on. Been ages. Might be another lifetime before we bump into each other again.”
Emily kept her head down, half-expecting to spot someone she knew among the crowd.
The café was packed, but Daniel pointed to a corner table.
“Over there.”
*Good—dark enough no one will see us.*
Before they’d even sat, a waiter approached with menus. Daniel flipped his open eagerly, swallowing hard. He glanced at Emily, who hadn’t touched hers.
“Just coffee for me,” she said.
The waiter returned.
“Ready to order?” he asked Emily, barely acknowledging Daniel. His look said it all—*What’s a woman like her doing with someone like him?*
“Black coffee, please.” She glanced at Daniel.
He rattled off his order quickly, and the waiter gave Emily a questioning look. She closed her eyes slightly—*Just let him have it.* The waiter vanished.
“Coffee’s good here. I come a lot,” Daniel said.
“Do you work nearby?”
He nodded, embarrassed. Clearly not as a manager—probably a stock boy or cleaner. She didn’t pry.
“You became a doctor, right? Like you wanted.”
“You remember?” she said, surprised. “Yeah, I’m an endocrinologist.”
Daniel nodded, either approving or just confirming he’d expected nothing less.
“Christmas shopping for the husband and kids?” He gestured to the bag by her chair.
She glanced at it. “You married?”
“Was. To Yvette. Remember her? Total nightmare. She’s why I’m… like this.” He caught himself. “I was young, stupid. She wouldn’t leave me. Next thing, we’re married. And you… I liked you.” He added the last part quietly.
*And I liked you,* Emily thought.
The waiter brought their order—coffee for her, two plates for Daniel.
“Fresh cakes today,” he offered Emily.
“No, thanks.”
As the waiter left, Daniel dug into his salad. Emily looked away. A man at the next table gave her a knowing smile, but his companion murmured something, and he dropped his gaze.
Emily didn’t touch her coffee. She wanted to leave. Daniel had moved onto a plate of meat and potatoes.
“What happened to you?” she asked, just to hurry this along.
Daniel set down his fork.
“Started fine. Nice wife, flat—her parents gifted it for the wedding. Got my degree, became an engineer. But what does an engineer earn? Yvette wanted more. Started pushing for us to go into business—her dad would front the money. Then this mate of hers suggested a car parts shop. So I got involved. Her dad put in capital, I put in work.”
“Then it all went wrong. Don’t even know how. Went bust. Yvette said I was useless, divorced me. Moved back with my parents. Then two blokes showed up—said I owed her dad money. Sold my car, parents sold their holiday home, emptied their savings. Cleared the debt, left with nothing. A month later, Dad had a heart attack. Gone. Yvette married my old business partner. They started fresh. Thriving. Think they planned it all along? Ruined the business, got rid of me.”
“Shamed Mum. Killed Dad. Shouldn’t have mixed with Yvette. No use crying now. Started drinking. Downhill from there.”
Emily frowned. “You could’ve sued them.”
“Wasn’t sober enough to fight. She had money, lawyers. Told her I’d get even—she laughed. Then sent two blokes after me. Spent two months in hospital. Wish they’d finished me.”
“Not complaining. My fault for not seeing it sooner. Got a roof, a job. Not everyone’s cut out for business. Just unlucky. Used to go to reunions, hoping to see you. Gave up.”
The waiter was watching. Emily reached for her purse.
“Don’t,” Daniel muttered. “Don’t humiliate me.” His eyes were desperate.
He paid, and the waiter left.
“You still at the old place?”
“Sorry, I should go. It was… nice seeing you.” The smile she forced was weak.
She hated that she’d come here, that she’d listened, that she knew this now. She remembered girls swooning over Daniel in school. All the tears she’d cried when he’d started seeing Yvette. What if she’d confessed her feelings back then? Would his life have been different?
As she stood, Daniel did too.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“No need. I’ve got my car.”
She hurried to the exit, not looking back. But he followed.
Outside, Daniel started, “Em, don’t worry about—”
“I’m fine,” she cut him off, heading to her car.
Pulling away, she saw him craning his neck, watching her go. She flashed her lights once.
Home, exhausted, she found her husband in the hall.
“You’re late.”
“Went to the shopping centre. Crowded. Got some bits.” She dropped the bag and spotted a wine glass on the coffee table. “Pour me one.”
David brought her a glass.
“You seem off. Work?”
She hesitated. “Ran into Daniel Mercer. Remember him?”
David smirked. “Should I be jealous?”
She told himShe never saw Daniel again, but sometimes, while sipping wine by the fire, she wondered what might have been.
