**Diary Entry 12th March**
Natalie was preparing dinner when there was a knock at the door. Strangethey had a doorbell, and everyone they knew used it. She opened the door to find a woman about her own age staring back at her.
“Good evening. Are you Natalie?” the stranger asked.
“Yes, and you are?” Natalie replied, searching her memory for recognition.
“You wouldnt know me. Im a close friend of your husbands.”
“Olivers?”
“Ollies,” the woman corrected with a faint smile.
Natalie sighed. “Let me guessyoure in love with him, and Im in the way?”
The womanintroducing herself as Helenlooked startled. “How did you?”
“Because youre not the first,” Natalie cut in. “Take him if you want. I wont stop you. Whats his excuse this time? That our children are too young, or that he cant abandon me in a fragile state?”
Helen shook her head. “No, nothing like that. He said we just had to wait until until your father passes.”
Natalie froze. Her father, Thomas, was in his late sixties, fit as a fiddle, and showed no signs of leaving this world anytime soon.
“Thats absurd,” she muttered.
Helen pressed on. “He said once your father was gone, youd move into his flat, and then hed be free.”
Natalie laughed coldly. “That flat is mineinherited from my grandmother. Hes got no claim to it. But by all means, take him. Just dont expect me to die off conveniently.”
Helen hesitated. “I dont care about the flat. I just want to be happy with him.”
“Then by all means, be happy,” Natalie said, already turning away.
Later that evening, Oliver returned from work, oblivious. After a silent dinner, he announced he was going for a walkhis usual code for his affairs.
“Of course, dear,” Natalie said sweetly. “At your age, fresh air is good for you.”
Oliver bristled. “My age? Im in my prime!”
“Are you? The bus driver offered you a seat the other day. Called you sir.”
“That never happened!”
Natalie shrugged. “And then theres Peter.”
“Who the hell is Peter?”
“My friend. Hes your age, but unlike you, he hasnt given up on life.”
Olivers face darkened. “Pack my things. I wont stay where Im pitied.”
“Theyre already packed.”
The next day, Natalie filed for divorce. Oliver didnt contest it, content with Helens flat, her admiration, and her insistence that he was still young. He got the car and garage; she kept the house and the country cottage.
Six months later, Helen kicked him outanother woman, another lie. Oliver returned, hoping Natalie would take him back, but she was gonetravelling with her father, living fully.
And so, Oliver found himself alone, staring at the garage he now called home, wondering if there was still some naïve woman out there whod believe in his fading charm.
**Lesson learned:** A man who trades loyalty for vanity will find himself with neither.
