Waking in the dead of night, Emily felt the empty space beside her. Disoriented, she reached out, expecting the familiar warmth of her husband, James.
But sleep refused to return, and James, it seemed, had no intention of coming back to bedfifteen minutes had passed. Her pulse quickened as she sat up, staring into the dark. What if something had happened? Was he ill?
She tried to steady herself, reasoning that perhaps James had simply woken with insomnia and was tending to work. Yet unease clung to her.
Unwilling to sit in silence, Emily slipped from bed and eased open the bedroom door, tiptoeing toward the kitchen. She froze just steps away.
His voice carried through the quiet. He was on the phone. The speaker was loud enough for her to make out the other voicesoft, unmistakably a womans.
*”Yes, darling. Ive already booked the tickets to Spain,”* James murmured, anticipation thick in his words. *”Well have an unforgettable time. No one will ever know.”*
The ground fell away beneath her. In an instant, her world shattered. Each word cut deeper than the last, sharp as glass.
All those years togetherplans, joys, griefs weathered side by side. How could he?
Silent, Emily turned back to the bedroom. Curled in the dark, she felt hot tears streak her cheeks. Her chest ached, anger and betrayal twisting inside her.
Finally, resolve hardened her. She stood, strode to the wardrobe, and began stuffing James things into a suitcase.
When he stepped into the room, the sight of her with the luggage made him stiffen. *”Whats going on?”*
Emily lifted her eyes, cold with certainty. *”I packed your bag,”* she said, voice steady. *”So you can take it with you to Spain.”*
*”What are you talking about?”* His nervous smile faltered.
*”Dont pretend, James. I heard your call in the kitchen.”*
His hands trembled, mouth openingbut she cut him off. *”Youll manage the rest. Take this and go to a hotel. And after your holiday, dont come back.”*
That night, everything changed.
As the door closed behind him, Emily lay back down, knowing sleep wouldnt come. But one thought wouldnt leave her: *Now, it will be different.* No more illusions. No more pain.
At last, she was free.
