30October2025 Dear Diary,
I never meant for any of this to happen, yet here we are. This morning James walked into the office, eyes bright, and announced, Weve got a new teammateCharlotte. Shes brilliant! The news felt like a fresh breeze through the glass doors of our West London branch.
Emma set a plate of scrambled eggs on the table opposite me. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, turning the room a warm honeygold. She propped her chin on her hand, gave me a smile that made the coffee smell even better.
James glanced up from his phone, curiosity evident.
Brilliant? Whats got you so taken? he asked.
Everyones saying shes fantastic! Emma replied, her voice lifting. We chatted yesterday and discovered a ton of common ground. She loves rock climbing, goes to the same gym I used to frequent, and reads the same books. Its almost as if they cloned me and dropped her into the office.
James chuckled, reaching for his mug.
Thats great. Youve been needing a work friend for ages.
Exactly, Emma said, picking up her fork but not cutting into the omelette. She wanted to keep talking. Shes also crazy about hiking. Weve already pencilled in a weekend trek for next month. She tells everything so openly, without any pretense.
James nodded, taking a bite of his toast.
Sounds perfect. Can you introduce us?
Of course! How about a dinner at my place this weekend? Ill cook something tasty and we can all have a proper catchup.
Sounds good to me, James said, easy as ever. Why not?
Emma smiled, turned back to her eggs, and felt a quiet joy swell inside her. She loved her job, had a wonderful boyfriend of three years, and now a new friend who clicked effortlessly. Life seemed almost pictureperfect.
Two weeks later Emma hosted the dinner. Shed polished the flat until it gleamed, prepared Jamess favourite roast chicken with rosemary, and set the table with care. Charlotte arrived bearing a bouquet of tulips and a small cake.
Emma, this place feels so cosy! Charlotte exclaimed, looking around. I could stay here forever.
Emma laughed, taking the flowers.
This is James, and this is Charlotte, she introduced, gesturing.
James extended his hand, his smile warm. Pleasure, Charlotte. Emma has told me so much about you, I feel like Ive known you for ages.
The feelings mutual, Charlotte replied, shaking his hand. Emma always says youre the most patient person she knows.
James winked at Emma. It takes patience to keep up with a lively girl like you.
The evening passed in a blur of laughter. James and Charlotte discovered a shared love of classic cinema and seventies rock. They volleyed favorite film titles back and forth, each trying to prove theirs was the best.
Emma sat between them, watching their banter with a grin that wouldnt leave her face. Her two favourite people were getting along. What could be better?
After that night the three of us started meeting up regularlycinema trips, art exhibitions, weekend hikes. James even suggested we invite Charlotte more often, insisting that time spent together was never dull.
Emma felt a swell of happiness, until subtle changes began to surface. James started staying later at work, whereas before he always left on time. He texted less during the day, and his calls became rarer. When Emma tried to discuss future plansbuying a house, weddingJames gave short, evasive answers, as if the topics weighed heavily on him.
Charlotte, too, seemed different. Occasionally Emma would catch Charlotte watching her intently, a quick, assessing glance that made her think something was unsaid. Then Charlotte would flash a smile and steer the conversation elsewhere.
One evening Emma was in the living room while James was cooking in the kitchen. His phone lay on the table beside her. The screen lit up with a message. Emmas eyes flicked to it reflexively. It was from Charlotte, timestamp just before midnight: Thanks for today.
Emmas heart tightened. She set the phone down, stared at the wall, and wondered what it meant. They had met that day, after all. James had said hed been stuck at work.
She tried to push the thought away, convincing herself that they were merely friends whod bumped into each other by chance, perhaps discussing a work matterthough James worked for a different company. Emma felt a pang of shame for her jealousy, telling herself she was overreacting.
But the unease lingered.
In March the three of us drove up to a cabin on the shores of Windermere in the Lake District. Wed been planning the escape for monthsEmma dreaming of forest walks and evenings by the fire, Charlotte eager to hit the trails, and James backing the idea wholeheartedly. We booked a cosy lakeside cottage, lugged in our climbing gear and a couple of tents.
From the moment we arrived, something felt off. Emma noticed James and Charlotte exchanging glances, their conversations dropping to hushed tones whenever she entered the room. The next day, while Emma rested after a climb, James and Charlotte wandered alone along the lake, chatting about an old chapel the local ranger had mentioned.
Emma nodded when they told her about it, but something inside tightened like a knot.
On the final night, we gathered around the fire. Both James and Charlotte looked uneasy, shoulders slumped. James avoided Emmas gaze, and Charlotte did the same. Emma tried to coax them into talking, but their replies were monosyllabic.
That night Emma lay awake, the crackling fire long gone, feeling that something essential had cracked irreparably.
A week after we got back, James sent a message: Emma, we need to talk. Lets meet at the café on Baker Street.
Emma sat at her desk, eyes glued to the screen, a wave of dread washing over her.
At five oclock she walked into the little café. James was already there, a cup of tea steaming in front of him, and Charlotte sat opposite, hands clasped tightly.
Emma paused at the doorway, a fleeting impulse to turn and flee, but her feet carried her to their table. She slid into the seat, coat still on.
Whats going on? she asked, eyes darting between them, both wearing guilty expressions.
James stared at his napkin, crumpling it into tiny pieces before finally looking up.
Emma, I dont know how to say this. We didnt plan it. It just happened.
Emma clenched her fists under the table.
In the Lake District we finally realised we fell in love with each other, James whispered. We tried to fight it, really tried. But we cant keep pretending.
Charlottes eyes filled with tears, mascara running down her cheeks.
Emma, Im so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. Youre my best friend, but this this is stronger than anything we imagined.
Charlotte reached out.
Emma pulled her hand back. Anger, hurt, and betrayal roiled inside her, a tangled knot lodged in her throat.
Stronger than us? Emma snapped, voice shaking. You were behind my back while I was planning a futurewedding, children, a life together. How could you do this? What did I ever do to you?
James lowered his head. We didnt want to we never meant to It was a mistake, Emma. I know it sounds hollow, but I cant keep lying.
Emma turned to Charlotte. You called me your best friend. How could you betray that?
Charlotte sobbed, covering her face. Im sorry. I didnt see it coming. We just talked, spent time together, and then it became something more.
Emma rose abruptly, the chair screeching against the floor. She snatched her bag and gave them one last look.
I dont want to see either of you again. Never.
She stormed out into the cold night, tears streaming down her cheeks, refusing to wipe them away. She walked straight to the Underground, not caring which line she took, only needing to be far from them.
The next day Emma submitted a transfer request to the Manchester branch of the company. Her manager was surprised but didnt press for details. Her reputation was solid, and the move was approved swiftly.
Charlotte tried callingEmma blocked her number. James sent a few texts, which Emma deleted without opening. He collected his things from her flat while she was out, leaving an empty apartment behind. Emma stood in the quiet living room, staring at the spot where his shoes had once been.
Two weeks later Emma was settled in Manchester, unpacking boxes in a new flat. Her parents were skeptical, but she was determined to start fresh, away from memories of James and Charlotte.
The first months were tough. She returned to climbing, now on her own, finding solace in the rhythm of each ascent. It helped her piece herself back together.
One day a mutual acquaintance from London messaged, saying James and Charlotte had moved in together and were living as a couple for the past two months. Emma read the note, switched off her phone, and let the silence settle.
The pain didnt vanish, but it dulled. She no longer wept alone at night, replaying that café scene. She kept moving forward, day by day.
Emma hadnt just lost a boyfriend and a friend; shed lost faith in peoples honesty, in the idea that friendship could be pure, that love wouldnt be so easily betrayed. Yet she resolved to rebuild her life, this time more cautiously inviting anyone new in.
The ache will linger for a long while, but Emma knows shell get through it. She has no other choice.
