**Diary Entry**
Victor pulled his car over near a tall metal fence. It used to be a white picket one. He hesitated—had he got the wrong house? No, second one before the turn. He remembered because he’d thought of it often. From the car window, he couldn’t even see the roof.
He kept glancing in the mirrors, checking if anyone was coming. A lone car on a quiet street would draw too much attention. *What am I doing here? Why?* The longer he stared at the fence, the less courage he had to step out.
Then a girl with a Labrador came through the gate. For a moment, he thought it was Alice—same chestnut curls, same figure. He couldn’t see her face. *Impossible. Fifteen years. She’d be pushing forty now, but this girl’s barely twenty. Modern miracles, I suppose. Or her daughter? But she didn’t have one back then. Should I ask? And say what?—”Hey, strange man chasing you down the street?”*
He sighed, turned on the radio, and waited. Twenty minutes later, the girl reappeared. As she neared, Victor realised she looked nothing like Alice. When she was a hundred yards off, he got out.
The Labrador strained at its lead, tugging toward him.
“Easy, Max,” the girl said, holding him back.
“Sorry. Did Alice used to live here? Or have I got the wrong place?” Victor suddenly remembered he didn’t even know Alice’s surname.
“Alice is my mum. Who are you?” She studied him carefully.
“Just back in town. Didn’t know she had a daughter.” He eyed the dog and stayed put.
“How long since you were last here?” She squinted.
“Fifteen years.”
“Well, you definitely aren’t my dad,” she laughed. “I’m adopted. Parents’ll be back soon. Want to wait?” She gestured to a narrow gate beside the fence.
Victor shrugged.
“Aren’t you scared? A stranger…”
She turned serious. “No. Why assume the house is empty? Max wouldn’t let anything happen. Plus, we’ve cameras. Coming?” She held the door open.
Victor set the car alarm and followed.
The garden was tidy but not fussy, the grass needing a trim. A slate path led to the two-storey house, grander now than he remembered. Back then, he’d been sharing a cramped flat with his parents and younger sister—this place had seemed enormous. Now he lived in one just like it, bigger even.
Inside, things were different. Expensive furniture, a massive telly, plush carpets muffling his steps.
“Bar’s over there if you fancy a drink,” the girl said, heading upstairs.
“Driving,” he muttered. “Your name?”
“Emily. Be right back.”
Alone, Victor noticed no photos anywhere. He sank into an armchair by the fireplace—new, too—and drifted into the past.
###
“Come on, mate. Jenny’s bringing a friend. Don’t leave me hanging,” Rob pleaded.
“Exam tomorrow,” Victor grunted, nose in a textbook.
“Few hours won’t kill you. Clear head’s better than cramming. Come on. Jenny’s mates are always fit.”
“Fine. But not long.” Victor slammed the book shut.
“That’s the spirit! You’ll thank me.”
They arrived late to the cottage where Jenny lived. Music played, a wine bottle half-empty on the coffee table beside snacks and fruit.
“You took your time,” Jenny pouted—striking, dark-haired, gorgeous.
“Had to drag Victor. Exam tomorrow,” Rob muttered, nuzzling her ear.
“Better not waste it, then,” Jenny laughed, dragging Rob to the table. “Alice! Where are you?”
A girl in a floral dress descended the stairs—pretty, though overshadowed by Jenny. But Victor was drawn to her straight away.
“My friend, Alice,” Jenny said, cranking up the music.
They drank. Rob and Jenny danced.
“Shall we?” Victor popped a grape into his mouth.
“Sure. And drop the formalities.”
Alice danced well. No makeup, just those blue eyes shifting from dark as river water to bright as cornflowers. He avoided staring at her lips.
The music changed, but they swayed on.
“Where’d Rob and Jenny go?” Alice stopped, glancing around.
They’d vanished. Alone now, tension prickled between them.
“I should go. You’ve an exam,” Alice said.
“I’ll walk you.”
They barely spoke before reaching her house.
“Wait.” Victor caught her wrist as she pushed the gate. “See you tomorrow?”
“Maybe.” She pulled free and dashed inside.
He walked back to halls, thoughts full of her.
Rob stumbled in at dawn, scraped a pass in the exam. Victor aced his. *Lucky draw. Alice brought me luck.*
“So? Make your move? She’s not bad,” Rob smirked on their way back.
“What did you say?” Victor spun him around.
Rob shrank under his glare. “Joking! Jenny’s enough.”
They walked back in silence. Rob crashed out. Victor drove to the cottage. No number for Alice, and he wouldn’t ask Rob. Daylight made everything unfamiliar, but he found the house—gate unlocked again.
He rang the bell. Alice answered in a short robe, so disarmingly cosy it stole his breath.
“Come in. Exam done?”
“Done.” His voice cracked.
The house was humbler than Jenny’s.
“Parents home?” He feigned interest in the décor, avoiding the robe’s neckline.
“Not till tonight. Hungry?”
“No.” He hadn’t eaten since yesterday.
“Tea?”
Her gaze felt mocking.
“Fancy the cinema?” he blurted, stiff with nerves.
She stepped close, hands on his shoulders, and kissed him.
He left fifteen minutes before her parents returned, floating home. They met a few more times that term.
Then his mum called—dad in hospital. He rushed to say goodbye, but Alice wasn’t home, her phone dead. A note on the step, then he left.
No replies to calls or letters. Rob had gone home too, clueless. “Ask Jenny,” Victor pushed.
Rob refused—they’d split.
Dad worsened. Paralysed. Victor couldn’t leave mum and little sister. He transferred to a local uni, started working.
Back at campus for paperwork, no sign of Rob, Jenny, or Alice. Calls went unanswered, then her phone cut off. That mocking look haunted him—just a fling to her. He forced her from his mind.
He married dependable Sarah. A son, then a daughter. No time for old flames. He and Rob drifted—never real friends anyway.
Dad died. Victor’s business flourished—posh car, big house. Mum helped with the kids; sister kept the flat.
A deal brought him back to his uni town. He went himself, itching to see Alice.
###
Now here he was, parked like a lovesick boy. Sat by the cold fireplace, asking himself: *Why? Alice is married. Maybe she had someone back then too. Just leave before she comes back with her husband…*
Then gates whirred open. A Range Rover pulled up. He felt trapped, like that first visit. The door opened.
“Mum, Dad—we’ve a guest,” Emily called.
She brushed past him as her parents entered. The man’s eyes locked onto Victor—recognising him. Alice stood calm, just faintly surprised.
“Well, well,” Rob said, hand outstretched.
He’d filled out, bald patch showing. From scrawny lad to family man.
Before Victor could shake his hand, Rob pulled him into a back-slapping hug. “What brings you here? Look who it is, love.”
Alice offered her hand. The touch jolted him—her lashes flickered. She felt it too.
“I’ll set the table,” she murmured, turning away.
“Don’t. I can’t stay.”
Rob fidgeted, eyes darting.
“Why didn’t you call? Tell me?” Victor asked bluntly.
“Why? You left. Never coming back.”
“And Jenny?”
Rob chuckled. “That was nothing. She’s in Israel now, married with a kid. Alice… I liked her.”
“Emily?”
“Adopted. Distant cousin of Alice’s dad. Twenty years, eh?”
“Fifteen.”
“Nice motor outside. Business good?”
Victor shrugged. Silence yawned.
“Drink?” Rob offered.
*Why did I come? Did I think she’d wait fifteen years? But Rob… Never saw that coming.*
“Got to go. Good seeing you.”
“Why’d you come, then? Moving back?”
“Just passing through.” Victor turned to leave.
“Drop by! Catch up properly!” Rob called after him.
*Not with you.*
At the door, he glanced back. Alice stood on the stairs, those deep blue eyes pulling him in. He stepped out.
Walking to the car, he sensed their stares. At the gate,He drove away, the past finally slipping into place like the last piece of a puzzle he’d carried for too long.
