No Going Back
“Happy birthday, Emily! I want to give you your dream,” Daniel announced cheerfully, wrapping his arms around her.
“How can you give someone a dream? A dream is just that—a dream. You can’t hold it in your hands,” Emily replied, baffled, as they stepped out of university after lectures.
“I’ll give it to you anyway,” he said proudly. “Let’s drop off our notes at the dorm, you can change, and we’ll go out of the city.”
They stepped off the bus at the “Equestrian Club” stop. Suddenly, it dawned on Emily—he was giving her a horseback ride. She’d told him countless times how much she longed to ride a horse. For some reason, she’d dreamed of it since childhood. She adored horses, though she’d only ever seen them at the zoo or in films, which she’d watch eagerly.
She couldn’t explain her love for them. Once, when she was five, she’d even asked her father:
“Daddy, can we buy a horse?”
Her father had laughed in surprise. “And where would we keep it? They’re big; they need feeding, hay. We live in a two-bed flat.”
“On the balcony,” Emily replied simply.
Her father patiently explained why horses needed stables and open fields, not cramped spaces. Heartbroken for the imaginary horse, she agreed.
“I get it, Daddy. No horses on the balcony. But could you build her a stable underneath it?”
That childhood dream stayed with her. Now a fourth-year student, she still loved horses.
After riding, Emily was radiant. “Thank you, Daniel. This was perfect. Dreams really do come true,” she said, and he was just as happy—he’d made her wish real.
It was spring. As they left the club, Emily spotted a nearby woodland. “Let’s walk through the woods—we’re already out of the city.” There, she found another joy: snowdrops blooming, white against the lingering patches of snow.
“Oh, Dan, it’s magical! My friends and I used to pick these back in my village. The snow’s still here, but they’ve pushed through. And the smell—spring is wonderful. Everything’s waking up.”
Young and happy, Daniel hurried to her with an armful of snowdrops as she gathered her own.
“Happy birthday, and happy spring,” he said brightly.
“Daniel, thank you,” she replied. “You’ve given me the most wonderful gift today. Horses, and now snowdrops—it’s like reliving my childhood.”
“I’m glad I could surprise you.”
They’d been dating for over a year. Just before graduation, Daniel spent his savings—bit by bit, plus his entire student grant—on a ring to propose properly. They were in love; that much was certain.
Their wedding was joyful, like any other—white dress, smart suit. Emily’s maid of honour was her best friend, Alice. They’d shared a dorm room, studied together, and remained close even after university, though they worked in different places.
Daniel climbed the ranks at his firm, soon becoming a department head with a comfortable salary. Emily worked too but later took maternity leave, giving birth to a beautiful son, Oliver.
Years passed. Oliver started primary school. To Emily, their life seemed perfect: peaceful, stable. Daniel was loving and devoted to their son. They owned a two-bedroom flat now. Alice visited often, especially on weekends.
“When are you going to get married?” Emily would tease her still-single friend.
“Who knows? But I hope so,” Alice would reply mysteriously.
Then, out of nowhere, disaster struck. One evening, Daniel came home grim-faced, avoiding her eyes.
“I’m leaving you, Emily.”
“Leaving? Where?” she asked, still half-smiling in confusion.
“For another woman.”
“You’re joking, right? Who?” she demanded, not grasping it yet.
“You won’t believe it, but it’s Alice,” he said, then went to pack.
Emily sank onto a kitchen chair, thoughts scattering like leaves. She couldn’t believe it—until the door slammed behind him. Oliver, playing outside, missed the argument. When he came in, he said:
“I saw Dad with a suitcase. He said he’s going on a long work trip.” Emily nodded silently. Let him think that.
Ten years passed.
One Saturday noon, the doorbell rang insistently. Annoyed, Emily yanked the door open, ready to scold whoever held their finger on the buzzer. But the woman on the doorstep made her freeze—Alice. She tried to shut the door, but Alice blocked it with her foot.
Emily glared. “What do you want from me now?”
“Won’t you even invite me in?” Alice asked.
“Why should I? Get out.”
“I came to talk. Please hear me out.” Something pleading in her tone made Emily relent.
Alice stepped inside, slipping off her heels and heading to the kitchen.
“Make yourself at home. Want coffee too?” Emily sneered.
“That’d be nice, but you won’t, so never mind.”
Emily studied her former friend—years hadn’t been kind. Alice had put on weight, dark circles under her eyes, though she wasn’t even forty yet.
Alice met her gaze. “Emily, take Daniel back,” she blurted.
Emily gaped. “Excuse me?”
“I’m begging you,” Alice pressed on. “I’ll even give you money—I’ve got some saved.”
“So you stole my husband, schemed behind my back, and now you’re returning him? Are you mad? Is he sick?”
“No, Daniel’s fine,” Alice said quickly.
“Then what? Fell out of love?” Emily scoffed.
“I never loved him,” Alice admitted. “I took him to hurt you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Because you had everything! Better grades, beauty, prospects. I was just your shadow. Daniel had a good job—I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted payback. It took effort.”
“And now he doesn’t earn enough?”
“Now he just drinks and lazes about. We couldn’t have kids—he wanted them, but I couldn’t. Oh, he still works, but he drinks too much,” Alice corrected hastily.
“So you’re dumping him on me?”
“No. I’ve fallen in love—properly this time. I can’t breathe without him. Maybe I can even have his baby,” Alice pleaded.
“You never think of anyone but yourself. You stole my husband, used him, and now you’re returning him? Really?” Emily said, oddly calm.
“Please, Emily—”
“No. I don’t want second-hand goods. Oliver and I are fine alone.”
“But you loved Daniel! You were heartbroken!”
“Yes, I loved him. But you destroyed that. You both betrayed me. I forgave you long ago, but I don’t want him—or you—back,” Emily said firmly.
Alice sat like a beaten dog, but Emily felt no pity.
“Leave, Alice. Go in peace. I won’t take him back. That part of my life is over. And as for being alone—I’ve got a man now.”
Alice left, heavy-footed. Emily sat in her favourite spot and cried—not for Daniel, but because she’d lied. There was no other man, just Oliver. And she knew—there was no going back. Not that she wanted to. That road was behind her.
