Shouldnt have aired the dirty laundry, I muttered to myself as I thought about what had happened.
Mollys really pulling away, Amy said, her voice trembling. Hes coming home late, doesnt help with the baby, and Im just I cant do it alone anymore.
I watched her fidget with the edge of the little blanket covering baby Arthur in his pram. He was sleeping, his soft breathing the only sound breaking the silence. The dark circles under Mollys eyes were getting deeper.
Maybe hes swamped at work? I ventured cautiously.
Swamped? What on earth does that even mean? Molly burst into tears. He used to tell me everything. Now hes as silent as a secret agent. He hides his phone from me. I feel I feel like Ive become a burden. After the birth my body changed, the belly wont go away, my hairs thinning Im convinced he doesnt love me any more.
I slipped my hand into hers. Her palm was cold and damp.
Dont say that. Youre a wonderful mum and youre still beautiful.
Yeah, right Yesterday I asked him to take the pram for a walk while I was making dinner. Guess what he said? My head hurts from the babys crying. So I guess Im the one who doesnt have a headache?
I pressed my lips together. Id always thought Daniel was selfish, but Molly wouldnt hear it.
Arthur let out a soft whimper and started to cry. Molly jumped up, cradling him.
Shhh, love, Im here, Mums here.
I walked Molly to the bus stop and promised to swing by later.
On my way home I cut through the city park, replaying our conversation, trying to think of a way to help her.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a familiar silhouette on a bench. Broad shoulders, that unmistakable gait it was Daniel. Beside him stood a striking darkhaired woman in a red dress.
They were standing awfully close, laughing, her head thrown back. Daniel looked at her the way he hadnt looked at Molly in ages.
Instinctively I slipped behind a massive oak, my heart hammering. Could I be wrong? Maybe she was just a colleague? But then Daniel wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her close. She rose onto tiptoes and kissed him full on the mouth.
I shut my eyes, hoping itd change when I opened them, but the scene was still there Daniel kissing another woman with a passion that never seemed to belong to his wife.
My hands shook as I fumbled for my phone. My fingers hit the camera button, and the shutter click sounded deafening even from fifteen metres away.
Daniel and the stranger kept kissing, then settled on the bench. She rested her head on his shoulder, he ran his fingers through her hair and whispered something in her ear. I kept snapping, then checked the video it was all blurry.
I left the park in a hurry, but the images haunted me the whole way home. I kept seeing Mollys tearfilled eyes, little Arthur, Daniel and that other woman. How could someone be so twofaced?
Back at my flat I watched the footage again. No doubt Daniel was cheating, and this wasnt the first time, judging by how carefree they were.
I tossed and turned all night, wracking my brain. Should I tell Molly? She was already in a fragile state after the birth; dropping this bomb could break her. Keep quiet, and shed blame herself for his coldness? I remembered her complaints Daniel drifting away, staying late, not helping with the baby. It all clicked: hed found a sideinterest.
The next day at work I couldnt focus. Colleagues asked about reports, but my mind was elsewhere. During lunch I called Molly.
Hey, hows it going? Hows Arthur?
Okay. Hes waking up at night, teething. Daniels late again, says there was a meeting.
I clenched my fists.
That evening I couldnt stand the tension, so I drove to my mums house. Ellen, my mother, noticed my ragged look.
Whats wrong, love? You look awful.
Mom, I need advice.
We sat at the kitchen table, I pulled out my phone and showed her the pictures and video.
Is that Mollys husband? she asked, shocked.
Yes. I accidentally saw them in the park yesterday.
Ellen watched the clip, then shook her head slowly.
Right. So what are you going to do?
I dont know. Tell Molly? Shes barely holding on after the birth. Keep quiet? Then how do I look her in the eye?
She went to the kettle, then paused.
If my husband cheated on me, Id want to know. The truth hurts, but better than living a lie.
But Mollys so vulnerable
Thats exactly why she deserves to know. Every woman has a right to the truth about her family, especially when a childs wellbeing is at stake. Who knows what Daniels other connections are?
I shivered. I hadnt thought about it that way.
Besides, Mollys wasting energy trying to win him back while hes just using her as a babysitter. Its not fair.
What if she doesnt believe me?
Maybe she wont, but its still better than a guilty conscience later. Ellen placed her hand on my shoulder. Youll do the right thing. How she reacts is her choice.
The next day I drove to Mollys flat. She greeted me with a weary smile, Arthur finally asleep in his cot.
Thanks for coming, love. Im going mad with loneliness. Sit down, Ill put the kettle on.
She shuffled about the kitchen while I took in the mess toys everywhere, dishes piled up. It was clear she was barely coping.
Did Daniel come home late again? I asked gently.
Yes. Said hed been with a client. I was already in bed. Dont even know if he ate dinner.
I struggled to find the words that would shatter her world.
Molly, I have something important. Its hard to say, but you need to know.
She tensed.
Whats happened?
I opened the gallery on my phone.
I was walking through the park and saw Daniel. He wasnt alone.
She squinted at the first photo.
Is that Daniel? Whos the girl?
I dont know. Look at the next one.
I played the video. Daniel was kissing the stranger, their lips pressed together.
Molly stared, then her face went ashen.
This isnt what I think it is, is it?
Im so sorry, Molly
She replayed the clip over and over, each time paling more.
This this is cheating! Hes cheating on me! He
Yes, it looks like it, and it doesnt seem to be the first time. They were acting like it was nothing.
Molly erupted, throwing the phone onto the sofa.
Ah! Its all you! Youre spying on us! Youre trying to ruin my family!
What? Molly, I saw them by accident
Accident? Youve been jealous all along, wishing I had a husband and a child! Youve been plotting this!
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she flailed around the room, clutching at nothing.
You thought I didnt notice the way you stared at Daniel? The way you looked for faults? This is your moment!
Calm down, Molly. This is absurd. I was trying to help
Help? Youve destroyed my marriage! I have a baby, and youve torn everything apart!
Arthur began to whimper from the nursery, awakened by the shouting.
Now youve woken my son! Get out! Leave now! Never come back!
Molly
Silence! I dont want to see you! Youre a traitor, a jealous witch! Get out!
Stunned, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door while Mollys accusations echoed and baby Arthurs cries filled the flat.
A few weeks later my friend Sarah told me what happened next.
Can you believe it? Molly confronted Daniel, showed him the video, screamed, demanded answers.
What did he say?
At first he tried to deny it, said it was edited. Then he lost it, started shouting. He said he didnt like her after the birth, that he had the right to look for happiness elsewhere.
I clenched my phone.
Its horrible
He even told her to move out of his flat. He wouldnt tolerate her outbursts. Molly and Arthur had to pack and go to her mums house. The whole house heard the screaming, the crying, the yelling.
Sarah went on, Molly ended up staying with her mother, Barbara, for two weeks, crying, trying to understand how her life had turned upside down.
Later, Mollys mother kept pushing for a reconciliation for the sake of the grandchild. She kept telling Molly that men make mistakes, theyll come around, and that her son should grow up with both parents. She urged Molly that she was still young, beautiful, could win him back.
Eventually Daniel called Molly, saying hed forgive her if she stopped the scenes and the tantrums. He said we shouldnt have aired the dirty laundry, as if that would fix everything.
Molly was torn. The betrayal cut deep, but the fear of being alone with a baby terrified her more. She had no job, no money, no place. She convinced herself that Arthur needed his father.
Maternal instinct and fear won. She gathered her things and went back to Daniel. He greeted her calmly, even helped hold Arthur while she unpacked. He hoped shed see her mistakes, asked her to stay away from Amy.
Molly complied, turned the blame onto me, claiming Id set it all up.
She cut off all contact with me, stopped answering calls, blocked me on every platform, and spun a story to everyone we knew that painted me as the villain who ripped her marriage apart.
I kept wondering, Should I have stayed silent and let Molly live in ignorance? Then shed keep blaming herself, but our friendship would survive. Or Is the truth, however painful, better than a lie?
I never got an answer. I only wanted to help, and in doing so I shattered a longstanding friendship and hurt the people I cared about most. Now I just carry that weight, and Ive sworn never to meddle in anyone elses relationship again. Never.
