Kate, maybe it’s time we stop lying to each other? — Stephen stepped so close to her that she could feel his breath on her skin.
“Steve, you know he’s my husband!” Katie cried out nervously—she’d already repeated those words too many times tonight.
“So what if he’s your husband? We have a right to be happy! Tell me the truth—Benny’s my son, isn’t he?” With that, Stephen gripped her shoulders.
Katie lowered her head and let the tears fall, no longer trying to hide them…
…Katie and Oliver had lived in the same house and known each other since they were babies. Their parents’ flats were on the same landing. It wasn’t as if the families were particularly close, but they got on well as neighbours.
A tight friendship between them was never likely. Katie’s parents were musicians—cultured, cheerful people who often had guests over. Katie was already attending music school and planned to follow in their footsteps.
Oliver’s family was the complete opposite. His mum worked as a shop assistant in the local supermarket, his dad was a mechanic at the factory. Despite their different upbringings, Oliver and Katie were friends. They played together as toddlers, then sat at the same desk in primary school.
Katie’s parents never discouraged her friendship with the boy next door—but they never saw him as a future son-in-law. Oliver’s parents, on the other hand, were thrilled their son was close to such a promising girl and often joked that they’d make a good match one day.
…Their first day back in Year 8 changed everything. When the class gathered for registration, their form teacher walked in—with a handsome new boy beside her.
“Everyone, meet Stephen—he’ll be joining us this year.” Mrs. Thompson gestured to an empty desk.
Stephen immediately caught the girls’ attention—smartly dressed, with floppy hair, a dazzling smile, and the bluest eyes. Katie noticed him too, but she didn’t dare approach him.
A few days later, she was walking to her music lesson, lost in thought, when the door to the school swung open suddenly. Startled, she stepped back—and there was Stephen.
“Oh! Hi!” she stammered, smiling awkwardly.
“Hey,” he grinned—that same heart-stopping smile.
“You go here too?” she asked.
“Yeah, just finished my lesson,” he said.
“I’m here for music theory…” she sighed.
Stephen looked like he wanted to say more, but then Emma barged in, shoving Katie forward.
“Kate, move it! We’ve got three minutes before Mrs. Carter skins us alive!”
Katie glanced back at Stephen one last time before Emma practically dragged her inside.
During the lesson, she couldn’t focus—her mind kept drifting to him.
“Wilson, I’d appreciate it if you paid attention,” Mrs. Carter snapped.
“Sorry,” Katie mumbled.
After class, she headed home, lost in thought—until she heard someone call her name.
“Kate, wait up!”
She turned to see Stephen jogging toward her.
“I thought you’d gone home?”
“Nah, I waited for you—figured we could walk together.”
They talked all the way back—about music, his family, his dreams of becoming a musician one day…
…That weekend, Katie couldn’t stop thinking about him. At first, she didn’t realise it was love—but soon, everything changed. Before, she and Oliver always walked home together. Now, it was the three of them. Oliver disliked Stephen immediately—he was too polished, too charming—but he never dared to say it outright…
…Two years passed. They were finishing Year 11. By then, both Katie and Stephen knew they were in love—but Oliver stood between them.
“Kate, fancy going to the disco tonight?” Oliver asked.
“Not this time. Stephen and I have tickets to the symphony—my parents got them for us.”
“Why him and not me?” Oliver grumbled.
“You’d be bored stiff. Next weekend, we’ll go to the disco—we can bring Stephen too.”
“…Fine,” Oliver muttered, though he clearly hated the idea.
After GCSEs, Oliver left for trade school. Katie and Stephen stayed for sixth form—those were the happiest days of her life. They sat together, walked to school together, and one night after the symphony, they kissed for the first time.
They made plans—they’d marry as soon as they finished school, go to the same university, never be apart…
Then graduation came.
“What do you mean, marry Stephen? Have you lost your mind?” Her mother was furious when Katie told her.
“Love, you need to focus on your career first. Marriage can wait,” her father reasoned.
Stephen’s parents were just as adamant.
“I won’t hear of this! You’re going to the Royal Academy—just like your grandmother and I did!”
They forced him to move away. At first, they wrote letters—Katie even planned to visit—but life got in the way. Then his parents sold their house and vanished…
Years later, while competing in a music festival, Katie ran into Stephen.
The spark between them reignited instantly. That night, they gave in to it.
“I’m so happy we found each other again,” she whispered. “Once I graduate, I’ll move to you. Nothing will stop me this time.”
Stephen sighed. “It won’t work, Kate.”
“Why not?”
“I’m engaged. To my mother’s friend’s daughter. Her name’s Sophie—and she’s pregnant.”
The news shattered her. She returned home numb, barely functioning.
“Kate, you’ve been miserable for weeks. Come out with me—it’ll cheer you up,” Oliver said when he dropped by.
“…Alright.”
A month later, she realised she was pregnant—with Stephen’s child.
She was torn—tell him? Raise the baby alone? Before she could decide, Oliver proposed.
“Kate, why are we wasting time? Marry me.”
“…Yes.”
They married. In time, she gave birth to a son—Benny.
…Fifteen years passed. Katie never stopped loving Stephen—but she never sought him out.
Until he came back.
Turned out, he’d never forgotten her either. His marriage had been joyless. Now, he was getting divorced—and he wanted her.
Their affair reignited with dizzying intensity. Katie lied to Oliver and Benny, sneaking off to meet Stephen. Her heart was tearing in two.
“Let’s run away—take Benny and go,” he begged.
“I don’t know…”
“I have to leave for a few days—but I’ll come back for you.”
Katie wrestled with the impossible choice—how to tell her husband? How to explain to Benny they were leaving?
But fate decided for her. Stephen never returned. Not because he didn’t want to.
He died in a car crash.
“Kate, you’ve been off lately. What’s wrong?” Oliver asked.
“Remember how you always wanted a daughter? Maybe it’s time we tried for another.”
“Alright,” he rasped, stunned.
It took three years. Little Alice was born, and Katie cherished her.
She still held Stephen’s memory close. One day, she’d tell Alice about her first love.
But for now, she was content—or perhaps she’d just accepted it.
A choice made for her. A choice by default.
