**A Journey to Happiness: A Fresh Start for Two Lovers**
Emma travelled to meet the man she loved, carried on the wings of joy. At last, her son had finished secondary school and been accepted into university. Now, she and her husband could finally live together after so many years of waiting.
The day after sending her son off to study, she bought a coach ticket and set off for John. They had only been married for two years, but they knew each other as if it had been a lifetime.
Their relationship hadnt been easy. It had started with difficulty, weathered many storms, but fate promised a future togetherat least, Emma was certain of it.
They had met eight years ago. Back then, she had just healed from her divorce with her first husband and didnt let anyone closeuntil she met John. Even with him, she had been hesitant at first. He had to work hard to convince her he wasnt like her ex, William.
For six months, they dated before deciding to move in together. John had come to live with her, as his tiny flat wouldve been too cramped for the whole family. Emma had a ten-year-old sonwell-behaved, but one who hadnt immediately warmed to his stepfather.
After three years together, John started talking about marriage, but Emma wasnt enthusiastic.
She felt those legal papers were pointless. Besides, they didnt protect anyone from betrayal, whether man or woman.
She was happy as things wereshe didnt want change.
At first, John had accepted her view, but then he realised it wasnt enough for him. He wanted to see Emma as his wife in every sense. He gave her an ultimatum: either they married, or they parted ways.
Emma didnt like his insistence and decided it was better to break up. And so they didfor half a year.
In that time, John had moved to another city where an old friend had offered him a well-paid job. He rarely came home, only visiting his parents once every two months. And on one of those visits, he ran into Emma again.
She was strolling through the park, looking as if life was treating her wonderfullyhappy, carefree, until her eyes met his.
In her gaze, he saw exactly what he felt in his own heart. She still loved him. And she couldnt hide it.
They resumed their relationship, but this time, long-distance. Sometimes she visited him; other times, he came to her. Every meeting was carefully planned, yet filled with warmth and passion.
They usually saw each other once a month, sometimes twice. John had often suggested she move in with him. He had managed to buy a two-bedroom flat in his new city, though he was still paying off the mortgage.
Emma would have loved nothing more, but she couldnt uproot her life so suddenly. Her son was a teenager who needed attention, and her mother was ill, requiring care. For over two years, Emma had worked tirelessly to nurse her back to health, and finally, her condition improved.
“You’ve got years ahead of you!” the doctor had cheerfully said upon her discharge.
Margaret hadnt kept her daughter tied down, but Alex was starting his A-levels. He didnt want to change schools and begged his mum to wait until he graduated. She had no choice but to compromise.
The summer before Alexs final year, Emma and John finally married. Seeing how much happiness it brought him, she regretted not agreeing soonerbut what was the use in crying over the past?
Now, they werent just meeting uptheirs couldve been called a weekend marriage if not for the hundreds of miles between them.
And now, Alex had been accepted into university. Emma was proud of her sonand she realised she could finally arrange her own life. She hadnt told John she was moving in, wanting it to be a surprise.
He had suspected it might happen, but he didnt know the exact date.
Emma packed her suitcase, boarded the coach, and set off for him. She wanted this day to be seared into his memory. She pictured herself in lace lingerie, scattering rose petals on the freshly made bed, preparing a delicious dinner, waiting for her beloved to return from work.
She dreamed of these details as the coach rolled on. She was certain John would be thrilled by her surprisebut instead, the surprise was waiting for her.
She unlocked his flat with her keyand froze in shock. A pair of blue eyes stared back at hera stunning young woman with fiery red hair.
“Who are you?” Emma demanded.
“Im Ruby. Oh, you must be Emma. Sorry, Ill leave straightaway!”
“Leave? Who *are* you?” Emma snapped.
“Please, dont be angry. Im your husbands girlfriend!”
“His *what*?”
Emma silently closed the door behind her, leaving behind all she had believed was hersdetermined to carve a new path, alone.
**Lesson learned: Some surprises aren’t worth waiting for.**
