We never meant for it to happen it just sort of fell into place.
Max, can you believe it? Weve got a new recruit in the department her names Mabel. Shes brilliant! Emma said, sliding a plate of scrambled eggs onto the table opposite me. The morning sun filtered through the lace curtains, bathing the office in a soft, buttery glow. She propped her chin on her hand and gave me a wide grin.
I glanced up from my phone.
Brilliant? Whats got you so taken? I asked.
Everything about her! We chatted yesterday and discovered we share a ton of interests. Shes into rock climbing, goes to the same gym I used to frequent, and reads the same books. Its like they cloned me and set her right beside me at work. Emmas eyes lit up.
I laughed, reached for the coffee pot, and said, Thats great. Youve been waiting for a workmate you can really click with.
Exactly! She lifted her fork, but didnt dig in. She also loves hiking. Weve already pencilled in a trip for next month. She tells stories straight out, without any of the pretence.
I nodded, taking a bite of the toast.
Sounds perfect. Can you introduce us? I asked.
Of course. How about a dinner this weekend? Ill cook something tasty and we can all have a proper catchup.
Sounds good to me, I replied, easy as ever. Why not?
Emma smiled, turned back to her omelette, and the day seemed to sparkle. I had a job I loved, a great partner of three years, and now a new friend who fit right in. Life felt almost pictureperfect.
Two weeks later Emma hosted the dinner at her flat in Notting Hill. Shed polished every surface until it shone, and prepared my favourite roast chicken with rosemary. Mabel arrived bearing a bouquet of tulips and a homemade cake.
Emma, this place is so cosy! Mabel exclaimed, looking around. I could stay here forever.
Emma laughed and took the flowers.
Thanks, Max this is Mabel. Mabel, meet Max.
I extended my hand, smiling. Pleasure. Emma has told me so much about you I feel like Ive known you a lifetime.
Might as well, Mabel replied, shaking my hand. She never stops talking about you. Says youre the most patient person on the planet.
I have to be, I winked at Emma. You cant survive an energetic climber without a bit of patience.
The evening went off without a hitch. Mabel and I discovered a shared love for classic films and 70s rock, debating which movies were the best and which bands ruled the era. Emma sat between us, smiling at how easily her two favourite people got along. What could be better?
After that night we started meeting up as a trio cinema trips, gallery openings, weekend hikes in the countryside. I even suggested we invite Mabel more often, because time with her was never dull.
Emma was delighted, but gradually she began to notice odd shifts. I started staying later at the office, leaving on time less often. My texts grew sparse, and calls became brief. When she tried to bring up serious topics like buying a house or wedding plans, my answers were curt and evasive, as if the subjects were a weight I didnt want to carry.
Mabel changed too. Occasionally, Emma caught her giving me a quick, evaluating glance, as if she wanted to say something but held back, then quickly turned back to a smile and changed the subject.
One evening Emma was lounging in the living room while I was cooking in the kitchen. My phone lay on the table beside her, screen lit up with a new message. She glanced at it automatically. It was from Mabel, sent just before midnight: Thanks for today.
Emmas heart sank. She set the phone down, stared at the wall, and wondered what it meant. She told herself it was probably a coincidence, a workrelated chat, that we were just good friends and she was being paranoid.
The unease lingered.
In March the three of us headed to a cabin on the shores of Windermere in the Lake District. Wed been planning the getaway for months; Emma imagined long walks in the woods and evenings around a campfire. Mabel was excited from the start, and I was happy to go along. We rented a cosy cottage by the water, packed tents and climbing gear, and set off.
From day one the atmosphere felt off. Emma watched us exchange glances, noticed us falling silent whenever she entered the room. On the second day, while she rested after a climb, Mabel and I walked together along the lake, chatting about a old chapel the local ranger had mentioned. Emma nodded, but something inside her tightened.
On the final night we all sat by the fire. Both Mabel and I looked guilty, avoiding Emmas eyes. She tried to draw us into conversation, but we offered only short replies. That night Emma lay awake, feeling that something vital had snapped beyond repair.
A week after we returned, I sent her a message: Emma, we need to talk. Lets meet at the café on Tuesday.
She was at her desk, staring at the screen, a knot of dread forming in her stomach. At five oclock she arrived at the café on the corner of Kings Road. I was already there, a cup of tea steaming in front of me, and Mabel sat opposite, looking uneasy.
Emma paused at the doorway, almost turned back, but her feet carried her to our table. She slipped into the seat across from us, coat still on.
Whats going on? she asked, eyes darting between us.
I sat in silence for a moment, crumpling a napkin in my hands, then lifted my gaze.
Emma, I dont know how to say this. We didnt plan it. It just happened.
She clenched her hands under the table.
In the Lake District we realised that wed fallen in love with each other. We tried to fight it, tried to ignore it, but we cant hide it any longer. My voice was low.
Mabels eyes filled with tears, mascara smudging as she sobbed. Emma, Im so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. Youre my best friend, but this is this is stronger than anything we imagined.
Mabel reached out, but I pulled my hand back. Inside, anger, betrayal, and heartbreak churned into a single knot in my throat.
How could you both? While I was planning our future, you were together? Behind my back? How could you let this happen to me? Emmas voice rose, drawing the attention of a few other patrons who glanced our way, but she didnt care.
We didnt intend it, I said, eyes fixed on the table. I know it sounds like an excuse, but we were careless, and Im sorry.
Emma, youve always said Im the most patient person. How could you be so ruthless? Mabel whispered, her voice shaking.
I stared at the floor, feeling the weight of my betrayal.
Emma stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. She grabbed her coat, snatched her bag, and with a final look at us, walked out into the cold night. The rain had started, soaking the streets as she hurried toward the tube station.
The next day Emma submitted a transfer request to the companys Manchester branch. Her boss was surprised but didnt push for details; she was a valued employee, and the move was approved quickly.
Mabel tried to call, but Emma blocked the number. I sent a few messages, all of which she deleted without reading. I collected my things from her flat while she wasnt home, leaving the empty apartment echoing with the memory of my sneakers that no longer belonged there.
Two weeks later Emma was settled in Manchester, unpacking boxes in a new flat, despite her parents disapproval. She resolved to start over, away from any reminders of me and Mabel.
The first months were tough. She threw herself back into climbing, this time alone, and it helped her find some steadiness. One day a mutual acquaintance from London messaged her, saying that Mabel and I had moved in together and had been living as a couple for two months. Emma read the message, switched off her phone, and let the silence settle.
The pain didnt vanish, but it dulled. She stopped crying at night, stopped replaying the last conversation over and over, and simply kept moving forward, day by day.
Emma didnt just lose a partner and a friend; she lost a belief that people could be honest, that friendship could be pure, that love wouldnt be so easily betrayed. Yet she decided to rebuild her life, this time more cautious about who she let in.
The ache would linger for a long time, but Emma knew she would survive. She had no other choice.
