I still cannot fathom where such fierce jealousy in you comes from. Truly, I cannot. Every day since we began courting, I hear nothing but accusations. In your eyes, there is always suspicion.
“Maxwell, what is this?” the girl demanded sharply, holding up a shirt. “This pink stainwhose lipstick is it? Tell me, did you stay late at work again?”
“Emma, what on earth are you talking about?” the young man sighed wearily, sorting through his work things. “I was on shift. What lipstick? The only woman in the department is Nurse Betty. Honestly Im exhausted.”
Emma pressed her lips together, crumpled the shirt, and stormed off to the washroom. Maxwell heaved a heavy sigh.
For over six months now, Emma and Maxwell had been together, and by all appearances, their lives were perfectsave for one thing. Emma was a deeply jealous girl, finding cause for suspicion where none could possibly exist.
“Look at this,” Emma groaned, shoving the shirt toward her sister. “Hes definitely cheating. Just look.”
Her sister, Charlotte, took the shirt, sniffed the stain, and laughed.
“What are you laughing at?” Emma snapped.
“Its jam. Fruit jam.”
Emma snatched the shirt back and inhaled sharply. Her face twisted between shock and confusion.
“You need to calm down,” Charlotte said. “I dont understand where this paranoia comes from.”
Emma sank into a chair across from her sister.
“We didnt just start seeing each other,” she confessed, avoiding Charlottes gaze. “I took him from someone else. He cheated on his ex with me. And at first, I thought hed never leave mebut then I realized he would. Oh, he would.”
“Thats no excuse to suspect him now. You must learn to trust.”
“I *do* trust,” Emma protested. “I just I cant bear the thought of losing him.”
Charlotte shook her head, at a loss for words.
“Where were you?” Emma demanded later that night, arms crossed. “Its past midnight.”
Maxwell exhaled tiredly.
“Emma, *you* let me go out with the lads. We watched the match, had a few drinks. Whats the problem?”
“Thomas was home hours agoI called Lily. Where were you the last two hours?”
“Tom left early for his wife, but I stayed with James. Emma, please. I need to sleep.”
He brushed past her and collapsed into bed, desperate to forget her endless jealousy, to feel something like peace again. But Emma, as always, had ruined it.
Days later, as Emma left the market, her eyes fixed on her phone, she barely noticed her surroundings. A flicker of movement made her glance upand she froze. Across the street, Maxwell stood with a blonde woman wrapped around him, laughing as if they had not a care in the world.
A haze of fury clouded Emmas vision. She dropped her bags and charged forward, wrenching the girl away by the arm.
“I *knew* it!” she shrieked. “I knew youd betray me! You vile, lying!”
Maxwells face darkened. His hands clenched, his eyes flickering between Emma and the bewildered blonde.
“Emma”
“Dont speak to me! I dont want your empty excuses!”
“Shes my cousin,” Maxwell cut in sharply. “Victoria. Aunt Margarets daughter. Youve met her. Now, go home. Well talk there.”
Emma obeyed, muttering a shaky apology to the girl before stumbling away.
When Maxwell returned late that night, his jaw was set, his eyes avoiding hers.
“Maxwell”
“Ive had enough,” he admitted. “I cannot fathom where this jealousy comes from. Every day, I face accusationsover patients, nurses, even lampposts! Its beyond reason and Im tired. Truly.”
“Maxwell!” Emma cried. “Are you leaving me? PleaseI love you! Forgive me, I dont know what comes over me, but Ill change! I swear it!”
She dropped to her knees, clutching his hands, searching his eyes. Maxwell *did* love herenough to end a five-year relationship for her sake. He never imagined hed do such a thing, but Emma had claimed his heart. Now, though, doubt gnawed at him.
“I love you,” he whispered, squeezing her hand. “But this this isnt normal. I cant live like this.”
“I wont do it again,” she sobbed. “Never. Just stay with me. You dont understandI cant lose you.”
With a heavy breath, he pulled her close. He couldnt leave her. Not even now.
For months afterwards, things improved. Emma kept her jealousy hidden, and Maxwell no longer lingered at work to avoid her.
Then autumn arrived, and with it, the flu season. The hospital was swamped. Maxwell came home late, exhausted, ate, and slept.
Slowly, Emmas suspicions returned. She told herself to trust himthe scent of perfume on his shirt meant nothing. Most of his colleagues were women, after all. But day by day, her doubts grew. She watched him, searched his clothes, hunted for clues.
One evening, after a shower, Maxwell left the washroom quietly, hoping to slip into bed unnoticed. Instead, he found Emma frantically scrolling through his phone.
“Emma what are you doing?”
She flinched, tossing the phone aside.
“Nothing! I just needed to make a call.”
Maxwell nodded at her own phone, lying pink-cased on the bed.
“Yours wasnt an option?”
“Its dead.”
The screen lit upa message from someone.
“*Really* dead? Or are you lying to me, too?” Maxwells brows lifted. “What else should I know?”
“Im sorry,” she mumbled.
“Find anything, Miss Marple?” he snappedtoo harshly.
Emma shook her head.
Wordlessly, Maxwell moved to the wardrobe and began packing. Emma leapt up, seizing his arm.
“Pleaseno! Dont go. I wont do it again. I trust you, Maxwell!”
“No, Emma. I forgave you once. I wont be the fool who steps on the rake twice. Im done. I just want to *live*. To trust and be trusted. This this isnt life.”
Within half an hour, he was gone, leaving Emma curled on the bed, knees hugged to her chest.
“I love you,” he said finally. “But I cant do this anymore. And you you wont change.”
He left the rented flat and returned to his parents. He was, truly, exhausted.
Distrust will always destroy a relationship, no matter how strong. Perhaps, deep down, Emma feared Maxwell would betray her as he had his last love. Yet *she* chose himknowingly. And without trust, there can be no love, no friendship, no true bond. *That* was her gravest mistake.
