Sorry, Tom, but I Ive fallen for your wife, he said, looking off to the side as if the words had slipped out on their own.
Tom froze, his face flickering through a dozen emotions. It was hard to breathe.
I swear there was nothing between us, his old mate rushed on, Emily doesnt even have a clue.
Tom stayed silent. Time seemed to stall.
So when did you think I needed to hear this? Tom asked, his voice flat and cold.
Weve been friends for years, the other replied, still avoiding eye contact, I thought youd help me figure out what to do His voice trembled with nervousness.
You want advice from me? Tom chuckled bitterly. Youve been cheating on my wife and now you expect me to give you my blessing? Brilliant!
No, youve got it wrong! If I wanted her, Id have taken her. You know me. But I cant. Youre like a brother to me.
A brother? Tom pushed himself up from the sofa. Remember when you ran off with Lucy from Mikes house? You swore wed be mates forever then.
Right, that was ages ago, back at school. Emilys a whole different story.
Exactly. Shes my wife, and shes pregnant, if you havent noticed. So get out of our lives.
Seriously? Youre ready to betray our friendship over a woman? Toms tone mixed bewilderment with hurt.
Its about family, mate. You get the difference, right? And why are you accusing me of betrayal?
Wasnt it you who started it all? Tom shot back. Take Emily to the cinema, Im busy, Help her with the renovation, Drive her to her parents. You were feeding me your own wife! I liked being useful, you know?
Get out, Tom flung the door open, his calm oddly frightening. And dont come back. Forget us.
Alright. Just so you know, pal, I was hoping for a different chat. My conscience is clear now.
The guest left, and the moment the door shut he dialed Emily.
Hey, we need to meet. Its important.
Whats up? she sounded nervous. Come over, Steves still at work. We can wait together.
I cant. He he told me Im not allowed in your house
How? Why?
I dont know. I thought youd explain.
Im lost, Emily stammered. Alright, lets meet at the park then
They met. She listened without interrupting while he spun the tale of Tom suddenly exploding, accusing him of some vague wrongdoing, talking about nonexistent affairs between him and Emily
He didnt lie, he just left out the crucial bits.
Your husband thinks Im tearing your family apart, he finished, staring into her bewildered eyes.
Thats nonsense, she whispered.
Toms just jealous, he said kindly. Did you ever notice?
He could see the puzzle forming in her mind: sudden questions from her husband, his irritation with her friends, constant suspicion. Perfect ground for doubt.
What should I do? she asked, voice trembling.
Talk to him. Tell him hes wrong. That were just friends.
He wont believe you.
Then say nothing, he brushed her hand lightly. Stay over at my place tonight. Let him feel what its like to be alone
Emily looked at him, fear and conflict flashing in her eyesdoubt, fear, resentment toward her husband, and something new, dangerous.
Okay, she finally said. But Im counting on you being decent
The first step was taken.
They spent the evening just like old mates, sipping tea, swapping funny stories, and he caught her gazeconfused yet intrigued.
When she fell asleep on the couch, he didnt bother waking her
The next morning the phone rang. Steves voice was hoarse, halfasleep.
Is Emily there?
Yes, the friend replied without a blink, Alls well. She just decided not to come back.
Silence hung. He imagined Steves face and felt a twisted satisfaction.
Tell her Steves voice faltered, choosing words carefully. The doors closed. Forever.
He hung up.
Emily woke to the conversation:
What happened?
Steve he doesnt want to see you anymore. He says youve made your choice.
She broke down. He held her, whispered empty comfort, but felt nothing. Honestly, why was she crying over a past happiness hed so easily shattered?
A week later Emily packed her things.
Im going to my mums, she said without looking at him. I need time alone to think.
Sure, he said, nodding. Go on
She left, muttering as she went:
I dont trust you, him, or myself any more
***
He was left alone in a empty flat. The silence pressed in, turning thoughts upside down.
His plan, so neat and elegant, cracked. She was supposed to be torn between them! Hed planned to torment Tom, keep her with him, relish his humiliation. But she left and ruined everything!
***
He flopped onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling, childhood memories bubbling up.
Everlucky Tom! Always scoring the winning goal, breezing through exams, getting the girls smiles. Everything came easy to him.
Jealousy had been brewing for years, quiet and sour, until it turned into pure hatred.
Life scattered them apart, and then a random encounter brought everything back.
Now Tom was a successful entrepreneur, with a beautiful wife and a baby on the way. His cheerful, confident grin, his calm certainty about the futureit all stirred up that old, unspoken rage.
He couldnt stand it any longer. He suddenly wanted to knock the smugness off that lucky bloke, to snatch a sliver of his happiness, even if just for a moment.
He never imagined it would be so simple
***
The phone rang, breaking the quiet. An unfamiliar number. A voice on the other end reported an accidentEmily had been in a crash on her way to her mothers.
He sat frozen, shocked, unable to move. It was no longer a clever scheme or revenge. It was a disaster.
***
When Tom learned what had happened, he spent days and nights at the hospital.
When Emily finally came to, through tears and pain she told him everythinghow shed been convinced her husband was irrationally jealous, how shed been coaxed to stay just to talk and be taught a lesson. Tom held her hand, squeezing it tightly.
He didnt care about the accident any more. He was just glad she was alive. He realised he could have lost her forever.
A few days later Tom returned home to change. Outside the block, his childhood friend stood, pale, eyes darting.
Hows she? Tom asked, voice hoarse.
Tom, exhausted, with a dim stare, answered simply, meaning the loss of their unborn child:
Its over.
The friend went even paler, as if Emily had vanished completely.
I didnt mean it! the words poured out. I was just jealousalways jealous! You had everything, I had nothing! I saw you so happy and I couldnt bear it. I thought I thought I could ruin you, break your family, make you suffer! I never expected her to leave, never expected this. I didnt want her dead!
Tom listened to the frantic, broken confession, then said:
I never expected anything good from you. But you surprised me, finally being honest. Does it feel better?
Sorry, came a hoarse reply. I never imagined it would go this far
Thinking helps, Tom snapped. They say it does. Anyway, see ya
He slipped back into the stairwell.
His old friend stood there, clueless about which way to go, and after a long, heavy pause he finally shuffled off, disappearing into the night.
