**And What Did You See in Him?**
Emily stepped out of the shop and was descending the steps when a sleek red car pulled up in front of her. A young woman emerged, her dress billowing in a sudden gust of wind, a strand of hair falling across her face. She tossed it back with a practised flick of her head, smoothed her skirt, and walked past without noticing.
“Charlotte? Charlie!” Emily called after her.
Charlotte turned, scanning the crowd before her gaze settled on Emily. For a moment, they just stared.
“You don’t recognise me?” Emily moved back toward the shop entrance. “It’s me—Emily Walker.”
“Emily. Honestly, I didn’t.” Charlotte’s voice was cool. “Small world, isn’t it?”
“You look like you’re in a hurry—” Emily nudged her aside from the doors. “Let’s step away. You’ve hardly changed!”
Charlotte gave a faint smile.
“Do you live nearby?” she asked.
“No, I’m at work. Just popped out on my break. What about you?”
“Listen, why stand here? Got time for a coffee? When else will we bump into each other?”
“Alright,” Emily agreed.
They ducked into a near-empty café next door, more of a greasy spoon than anything. A waitress chewing gum sauntered over, slapping down laminated menus with little enthusiasm.
“Don’t bother,” Charlotte waved them off. “Two salads, two sponge cakes, and tea. Quickly.”
She turned back to Emily, smirking as the waitress swayed away.
“So, how’s life?” Charlotte leaned back on the plastic chair.
“Fine. Was married, briefly. No kids. Seems you’ve done well for yourself.”
“Can’t complain.” Charlotte laughed, flashing her wedding ring.
“Children?”
The waitress returned with tiny plates of cake, teacups, and a small porcelain pot.
“Your parents—are they still around?” Charlotte asked suddenly once they were alone again.
“Dad died years ago. Mum… well, she’s still here, but she’s not been the same since.” Emily twisted her teacup.
Charlotte poured the fragrant mint tea.
“That’s a shame. I always liked your folks. Unlike my mother—never satisfied, never a kind word. No wonder Dad left. I used to envy your house. So quiet… peaceful.” Her eyes clouded over.
Emily sighed.
***
They’d lived in the same building—Emily on the fourth floor, Daniel on the third. First nursery, then the same school. Daniel’s father drank, and the rows at home sent him fleeing to Emily’s flat.
In Year 9, a new girl arrived—Charlotte. Parents divorced, moved nearby with her mum. Pretty, confident, she caught Daniel’s eye instantly. Emily fumed. They’d always walked together, just the two of them. Now—
“What? Forgotten something?” Emily snapped when Daniel paused in the courtyard.
“Wait a sec.”
“For what?”
Just then, Charlotte appeared, grinning only at Daniel. Around her, he became someone else—chatty, full of jokes. Emily trudged beside them, ignored.
After school, he’d bolt to the lockers, waiting with Charlotte’s coat. They’d walk home, forgetting Emily entirely. At break, Charlotte would talk to her like nothing was wrong.
Once, they went to the cinema. When the lights came up, Emily saw their hands entwined. They walked ahead, not noticing when she fell behind. She never joined them again.
After school, they scattered—Emily to university, Daniel to trade college, Charlotte to fashion school.
That winter, Emily was ill, snowed in. Peering from her window, she spotted Charlotte hurrying toward her building. Heart leaping, she waited by the door—until the footsteps stopped one floor below. Daniel’s voice: “Finally…” The door clicked shut.
Emily collapsed onto the shoe bench, sobbing. Charlotte had been visiting him while his parents were out. The thought of what they were doing made her sick.
Later, her mother mentioned bumping into Daniel’s mum—his father worse than ever, Daniel moved out, renting a flat with Charlotte.
In her final year, Emily married a classmate. Living with his mother was suffocating. The woman meddled, dictating how a wife should behave. Alex was a mama’s boy.
“Why’d you marry me, Al?” Emily had asked once. “No wife replaces your mother.”
He’d shrugged. “She means well. You’ll adjust.”
“I won’t. Live with her, then.” She’d packed her bags.
Another shrug as he turned back to his computer. The divorce was quick—no kids, nothing to split.
She’d seen Daniel just once since, at his father’s funeral. No chance to talk. His mother remarried soon after.
***
Now, Charlotte sat across from her, radiant as ever. The salads arrived. Charlotte dug in; Emily picked at her cake, sipping lukewarm tea.
“Daniel—how is he?”
Charlotte’s fork froze. “Still carrying a torch?” She leaned back.
“I always envied you. Your family was… warm. Mine? Just me and my looks. Daniel was easy to reel in.” A pause. “But we were too different. Boredom set in fast. He wanted kids, a home. I wanted to live, not scrape by.” She tapped her ring. “Now? Wealthy husband, everything I dreamed of.”
“And Daniel?”
“Still on that? He’s in a tiny flat. Alone, last I heard. So go ahead—what do you even see in him?”
Emily checked her watch. “I should get back.” She stood abruptly.
Charlotte waved a hand. “My treat.” Dismissive, like shooing a servant.
Emily turned at the door, marched back.
“Forgot something?” Charlotte smirked.
“His address.”
A flicker of surprise. Charlotte scribbled on a napkin. “Take it. Good luck.”
In her office, Emily unfolded it. *”What now? Just turn up?”* Charlotte’s voice seemed to taunt her.
“I’ll go. No question,” she muttered.
“Did you say something?” a colleague asked.
Emily tucked the napkin away.
That evening, fallen leaves crunched underfoot. She paused in the courtyard, glancing up at Daniel’s old window. Memories flooded back—school days, him fleeing his father’s rages… Gone. All gone.
She found his building easily. Hesitated. *”Why am I here? Charlotte’s right—he never loved me. All these years, not a word. Stop being pathetic.”* She spun to leave—and collided with him.
“Emily? What are you doing here?”
Her heart hammered. “A colleague—she wasn’t in. You look rough.”
“Caught a bug. Just getting milk.” He held up the bag.
“You should be resting.” She steered him inside.
His flat was sparse. She fried potatoes from under the sink, boiled the milk, sent him to bed. When she checked, he was asleep, fever broken. She watched him—her Daniel, always hers. Then slipped out.
“Late today,” her mother called when she got home.
“Ran into Charlotte.”
“Thought you two weren’t friends.”
“Just coffee. She’s married, glamorous—same as ever.”
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“When do I get grandchildren?”
“Not this again.” Emily retreated to her room.
She tried reading, but Daniel’s face haunted her—pale, unshaven, asleep on his sofa. *”So I went. Now what?”*
Brushing her teeth later, her mother handed her the ringing phone.
“Didn’t think you’d still have this number,” Daniel croaked. “Sorry I conked out. Why’d you leave?”
Goosebumps prickled. Emily shut the bathroom door.
“Didn’t want to wake you. Feeling better?”
“Almost. Em… I know I messed up. Not the time or place, but… Will you come tomorrow?” His voice cracked.
“You want me to?”
“Of course. Or—where do you work? I’ll meet you.”
“I’ll come.”
How long had she waited for those words?
Next morning, she dressed carefully—smart dress, even makeup.
“Where’s this?” her mother asked.
“Colleague’s birthday do.”
“Late again?”
“Maybe.” Emily ducked into the bathroom, scrubbed off the lipstick, changed into jeans.
“Don’t ask,” she said, dashing out.
At work, her heart raced. Tonight, she’d see him again. After all this time.
