So lovely Emily whispered to herself.
She cherished these quiet mornings, sipping her coffee while William still slept, dawn only just peeking through the kitchen window. In these moments, everything seemed perfectly in its place. Her jobsteady. Their flatcosy. Her husbanddependable. What more could one want for happiness?
Envy never crossed her mind when friends complained about their jealous, argumentative spouses. William was never the jealous type, never made a scene. He didnt check her phone, never demanded explanations for every move. He was just there, and that was enough.
Em, have you seen my garage keys? William appeared in the kitchen, hair thoroughly tousled from sleep.
On the shelf by the door. Helping the neighbour again?
Tom asked if I could have a look at his car. Something up with the carburettor.
She nodded, pouring him a mug of coffee. This, too, was their routine. William was always lending a handto colleagues moving house, mates with odd repairs, neighbours with anything that needed fixing. Her knight, she sometimes thought fondly. A man who couldnt walk past anothers struggle without stepping in.
That was the quality that won Emily over on their very first datehe stopped to help a stranger, an elderly woman, carry her shopping to her door. Most guys would walk on by. William didnt.
Their new neighbour had moved into the flat below three months ago. At first, Emily hadnt really noted her. People come and go in blocks like these. But Hannah, as she was called, turned out to be the kind of woman you cant help noticing.
Her laughter rang loudly in the hallway. Heels clicked on the staircase at all hours. She had a way of chatting on her phone, loud enough for the whole building to overhear.
Can you believe it? He brought groceries for me today! Bagful! Didnt even have to ask! Hannah was gabbing into her phone one morning.
Emily crossed paths with her at the letterboxes and offered a polite smile. Hannah was positively beaming, wrapped in that unmistakable contentment of someone recently smitten.
New boyfriend? Emily asked, out of courtesy.
Not entirely new, Hannah responded with a sly squint, but very attentive. Not many like him! Fixes anything, you knowleaky tap, dodgy socket. He even helps sort my bills!
Lucky you.
Thats putting it mildly! Mind you, he is married. But its only a bit of paper, right? Main thing is, hes happy with me.
Emily walked back up to her flat, a sense of unease curdling within her. Not about right or wrongthe conversation had scratched at something deeper, though she couldnt name it yet.
Over the next weeks, their chance meetings continued. Hannah almost seemed to wait for Emily in the stairwell, eager to share her gushing tales.
Hes so thoughtful! Always asks how Im feeling, if I need anything
Last night, he brought me medicine when I was ill. Found an all-night chemist and everything!
And he tells me, you know, being needed is his purpose. Thats it. Helping peoplethat makes him happy
Now Emily flinched.
Being needed is his purpose.
William had said those very words. On their anniversary, she remembered. It was his explanation for being late, having helped his mates mum in her allotment.
Coincidence, surely. There must be other men out there with a saviour complex.
Yet the details kept piling up. The spontaneous shoppingWilliams trademark. The compulsion to mend every broken thing.
Emily forced these thoughts away. She was being ridiculous. You cant suspect a husband just because a stranger boasts about her man.
Then William began to change. Not abruptly, but gradually. Hed step out just for a minute and vanish for hours. He kept his phone on him, even in the bathroom. When Emily asked straightforward questions, his replies turned short, barely concealing his annoyance.
Where are you off to?
Just running an errand.
What errand?
Emily, whats with this grilling?
But he looked happy. As though, somewhere else, he was getting that much-craved sense of importance missing at home.
One evening, he prepared to go out again.
Gotta help a workmate with some paperwork.
At nine at night?
When else? Hes at work all day.
Emily didnt argue. She glanced from their window, but her husband never left by the front door.
She pulled on her jacket and, calm and steady, headed downstairs to a familiar door.
Her finger pressed the buzzer. No plan of what shed say, no rehearsed indignation. She waited.
The door swung open almost immediately, as if shed been expected. Hannah stood there in a short silk robe, wine glass in hand. Her smile drained away in slow motion as she recognised her visitor.
Behind her, in the golden-lit hallway, Emily saw William. Shirtless. Damp-haired from a recent shower, making himself perfectly at home in another womans flat.
Their eyes met. William flinched, mouth opening, wordless. Hannah simply looked from one to the other, unfazed, giving a lazy shrug of indifference.
Emily turned and walked up the stairs. Behind her, hurried footsteps pattered, Williams voice calling, Emily, wait, I can explain But when he knocked on her door, Emily didnt open it.
The next morning, Rita, Williams mother, turned up. Emily wasnt even surprisedof course William had rung to plead his case.
Oh Emily, dont be such a child, Rita stationed herself in the kitchen. Men, theyre like big kids. They need to feel like heroes. That neighbour of yours, she just needed help. Will couldnt say no!
He couldnt say no to her bedroom either, is that what youre saying?
Rita sniffed, as if Emily had uttered something uncouth.
Lets not twist things. Will is a kind boy. Hes just too soft-hearted. Its not a crime, is it? So he got a bit carried away. It happens. Even my late husband She waved a dismissive hand. Family is what matters. Youll get over it. Youre a clever woman, Emily. Dont throw your life away over nonsense.
Emily looked at Rita and saw everything she feared becominga convenient wife, patient, willing to ignore all, so long as the façade of family endured.
Thank you, Rita, but Id like to be alone now.
Her mother-in-law left in a huff, muttering something about young people nowadays who cant forgive a thing.
That evening, William returned. He crept round the flat like a guilty cat, searching her face, trying to hold her hand.
Emily, its not what you think. She just asked for help with the tap, then we ended up chatting, she seemed so lonely
You didnt have any clothes on.
I spilt water on myself! While fixing the tap! She gave me a t-shirt, then you turned up
Emily wondered how shed never noticed beforeWilliam was a terrible liar. Every word was off-key, every gesture shrieked panic.
Look, even if lets assume say, something happened. It didnt mean a thing! I love you. Shes just a dalliance, a stupid mistake. Mens weaknesses.
He sat next to her, tried to put his arms around her.
Lets just forget it, all right? I wont do it again. Promise. Shes getting on my nerves anyway, always nagging, always wanting something
And thats when Emily finally saw the truth. This was no remorse. It was pure fearfear of losing his comfort. Fear of being left with a woman who truly needed him, not someone content to let him play the part of rescuer at his convenience.
Im filing for divorce, she said evenly, as if stating shed switched off the iron.
What? Emily, dont be ridiculous! Over one slip-up?!
She stood and went to the bedroom. Pulled out her holdall. Started gathering her documents.
The divorce came through in two months. William moved in with Hannah, who received him with open arms. Though those soon changed to lists: fix this, buy that, pay these, sort those, help here.
Emily found out through mutual friends, but she didnt gloat. Everyone gets what theyve earned.
She rented a small flat on the other side of London. Every morning, she drank her coffee in peace; no one asked where the garage keys had gone. No one slipped out for a minute returning with the scent of another womans perfume. No one lectured her on patience and convenience.
Odd, she thought it would hurt. She expected loneliness, regret, sorrow. Yet instead she found something new: freedom. It was like shedding a heavy old coat shed forgotten she wore.
For the first time, Emily belonged only to herself. And it felt better than any false sense of security ever had.
