He Loved Her, But Not Me
Gemma stood by the window, watching the courtyard where her husband, Daniel, was chatting with their neighbour, Jessica. Again. For the third day in a row. They lingered near Jessica’s car, and Jessica was talking animatedly, waving her hands as Daniel listened intently, nodding and occasionally laughing.
Gemma stepped back, not wanting to be seen. That familiar weight settled in her chest—not jealousy, no. Something heavier. Understanding.
“Mum, where’s Dad?” asked their daughter, Lily, peering into the kitchen. “He promised to help me with my maths homework.”
“Outside,” Gemma answered, forcing her voice to sound normal. “He’ll be back soon.”
Lily nodded and dashed off to her room. Gemma flicked on the kettle and pulled out a tin of biscuits from the cupboard. Her hands moved automatically while her mind was elsewhere.
When Daniel finally came in, he wore that particular smile—pleased, a bit absent-minded. The one he only had after talking to Jessica.
“Hello,” he said, striding into the kitchen. “Any tea going?”
“Just made some,” Gemma said, setting a mug in front of him. “Long chat with Jessica?”
“Not too long. She was telling me about her new job. Can you believe it? She landed a role at that big advertising firm. At her age!”
His voice brimmed with admiration. There was pride there, as if Jessica’s success were his own. Gemma quietly stirred sugar into her tea.
“What will she be doing there?”
“Client relations manager. She’s got the qualifications, loads of experience. Jessica’s really got it together, especially after the divorce.”
Jessica. Always Jessica. Their neighbour, who’d moved into the house across the street six months ago—stunning, newly single, no kids. Successful, independent, fascinating. All the things Gemma had once been, before becoming a wife and mother. Not that she regretted her choices, but sometimes…
“Lily’s waiting for you with her maths,” she reminded him.
“Oh, right. Nearly forgot. I’ll pop in now.”
Daniel finished his tea and left. Gemma stayed behind, alone in the kitchen. She picked up his mug and spotted a few tea leaves clinging to the bottom. Her grandmother had once taught her to read them, but Gemma didn’t need divination to see the future. The present was clear enough.
Daniel was in love. Not with her, his wife of seventeen years, but with Jessica. He didn’t realise it yet—or didn’t want to—but Gemma saw the signs. The sudden extra effort with his appearance, the new shirt, the frequent shaving. How he found excuses to go outside whenever Jessica came home from work. The way his eyes brightened whenever he mentioned her.
They used to shine like that when he looked at Gemma.
“Mum, Dad said you’ve got a degree too,” Lily said later, appearing with a textbook in hand. “Why don’t you work?”
The question caught Gemma off guard. Lily stared at her with the blunt curiosity of a thirteen-year-old.
“I did work, when you were little,” Gemma replied. “Then I decided to focus on home and family.”
“Isn’t that boring?”
Boring? Gemma had never asked herself that. After Lily was born, she’d taken maternity leave and never gone back. Daniel earned well, they wanted for nothing. It had seemed right—being there, taking care of her husband and child.
“No,” she told Lily. “I’ve plenty to do.”
“Right. But Jessica says women should be independent. That we shouldn’t lose ourselves in family stuff.”
Gemma blinked. When had Lily spoken to Jessica about this?
“She told you that?”
“Yeah, yesterday. I bumped into her outside. We got chatting. She’s dead interesting, isn’t she? Knows loads, been everywhere.”
“Yeah,” Gemma agreed. “Interesting.”
That evening, as Lily did homework, Gemma and Daniel sat in the lounge. He scrolled through an article on his tablet; she flipped through a magazine. A perfectly ordinary domestic scene, if not for the suffocating silence.
“Daniel,” Gemma finally ventured. “I think we should talk.”
He glanced up. “About what?”
“Us. Our family.”
“What’s wrong with us?”
Gemma hesitated, choosing her words carefully. How do you tell your husband you’ve noticed he’s falling for another woman? That you feel invisible in your own home?
“I think we’ve been drifting apart,” she said gently.
“What makes you say that?” Daniel frowned. “Everything’s fine. No problems here.”
“When was the last time we had a proper conversation? Not just about bills or chores, but really talked?”
“Dunno. Does it matter?”
The indifference in his voice told her the discussion was over. Daniel didn’t see a problem because he didn’t want to.
“Never mind,” she murmured, returning to her magazine.
The next day, Gemma went to the gym—something she’d been meaning to do for ages. Now she had the time; Lily was older, the housework less demanding.
In the changing room, she ran into Jessica.
“Gemma!” Jessica beamed. “Fancy seeing you here! Giving fitness a go?”
“Yeah, thought it was about time,” Gemma said, forcing a smile.
Jessica looked radiant in her workout gear—toned, effortless. Gemma couldn’t help comparing herself, and the comparison stung.
“Want to train together?” Jessica offered. “More fun with company.”
“Sure,” Gemma agreed, though every fibre of her resisted.
They exercised, then stopped at a café nearby.
“I’m so glad I’ve finally got a mate in this neighbourhood,” Jessica said, stirring her coffee. “After the divorce, I felt so alone.”
“Mind if I ask why you split?” Gemma asked, though she knew it was nosy.
“He cheated,” Jessica said simply. “Didn’t even try to hide it. Guess he thought I’d put up with it for the sake of the marriage.”
“You didn’t.”
“No. Why stay with someone who doesn’t respect you? Better alone than stuck in a fake marriage.”
Gemma mulled this over. Did Daniel even respect her anymore? Had she become just another piece of furniture—a convenient housekeeper?
“You and Daniel seem solid, though,” Jessica said. “Such a strong couple.”
“Yeah, we’re fine,” Gemma lied, the words sticking in her throat.
“He’s lovely,” Jessica went on. “Clever, kind, thoughtful. You’re lucky.”
There was something in her voice—a warmth that spoke of more than neighbourly fondness.
“Yeah,” Gemma echoed, quickly changing the subject.
Later, Gemma studied herself in the bedroom mirror. Forty. Not old, but no longer young. A few extra pounds that had stayed after pregnancy. Tired eyes without their old sparkle.
On the dresser sat their wedding photo. Young, happy, in love. Daniel had looked at her like she was his whole world.
Now that look was for Jessica.
“Mum, what’s for dinner?” Lily asked, popping her head in.
“Pasta,” Gemma said, turning from the mirror.
At dinner, Daniel chatted to Lily about work. Gemma half-listened, pushing salad around her plate. Then he surprised her:
“How was your day?”
“Went to the gym. Got to know Jessica a bit better.”
“Really?” His face lit up. “How’s she doing?”
“Fine. Talked about her divorce.”
“Tough break for her,” Daniel said, shaking his head. “Glad she’s moved on. Jessica’s strong, she’ll manage.”
Again, that admiration. Gemma looked at Lily, who’d noticed the change in her father’s tone too.
“Dad,” Lily asked bluntly, “why d’you care so much about Jessica?”
Daniel flustered. “It’s not that I care. Just feel bad for people when life kicks ‘em.”
“Right,” Lily said, dropping it.
But Gemma saw the cogs turning. Kids spotted lies faster than adults.
After dinner, Gemma washed dishes while Daniel scrolled through property listings.
“Gem, come here!” he called.
She dried her hands and joined him.
“Look at these flats in the new development,” he said, showing her the screen. “Maybe we should think about moving?”
“Why?” Gemma frowned. “This place suits us.”
“Just curious. Might be an upgrade.”
Gemma glanced at the screen. Daniel was browsing flats near Jessica’s rented place.
“Don’t think we need to,” she said. “Lily’s settled in school, my friends are here.”
“Yeah, suppose you’re right,” he conceded, though reluctantly.
At work, Gemma found her groove. Her colleagues were welcoming, the job—a travel agency—suited her. For the first time in years, she felt alive.
Daniel grumbled at first about the house being untidy, meals unmade, but adjusted. Or found somewhere else to eat.
One evening, Gemma came home to find Jessica leavingAs Gemma watched Jessica hurry away, a quiet certainty settled over her—this was the end of one chapter, but the beginning of something new, something entirely her own.
