“You’re going to see her again, arent you?”
Emily glared at her husband. David kept tying his shoelaces, avoiding her eyes.
“To see the kids, Em. The kids, not her,” he muttered, standing up to grab his jacket. “How many times do we have to go over this?”
Emily clenched her jaw, her lips pressed into a thin line. There were so many things she wanted to say, but the words stuck in her throat like a hard lump.
“You were fine with this before we got married,” David continued, shrugging into his coat. “You knew I had kids. I told you everything. You said you understood. Now what? Interrogations every time I leave?”
Emily said nothing. David waited a moment, then sighed and walked out. The lock clicked behind him, leaving her alone in the silent flat.
It took her a few seconds to move. Her legs felt heavy as lead. She sank onto the sofa in the living room and turned on some mindless tellyjust background noise to drown out her thoughts.
She and David had been together three years, married for two. And yes, shed known from the startdivorced, two kids, a boy and a girl. Hed told her on their third date. Back then, Emily had smiled and said it wasnt a problem. Shed said she understood. That the kids werent an obstacle.
Now those words felt foolish. Naïve.
She pressed a hand over her eyes and took a deep breath. The tears were getting harder to hold back. Her chest ached like an invisible weight was crushing it.
It had become unbearable. Twice a week, without failTuesday and Saturday. David would leave to visit his exs house. Said it was to see the kids. But hed stay for dinner. Spend time with his ex-wife. With Olivia.
Emily knew it was irrational. She trusted her husbandor at least, she tried to convince herself she did. But something inside warned her disaster was coming. A sickening, creeping feeling she couldnt shake.
Every time David left, Emily was alone in the flat, drowning in self-doubt. She hated herself for not standing her ground, for letting his excuses wear her down, for staying silent when she should have screamed.
She grabbed her phone and texted her best mate: *Hes with her again.*
Her phone buzzedLucy was calling.
“Hello?” Emily answered, forcing her voice steady.
“Em, what the hell are you doing?” Lucy didnt mince words. “How much longer are you going to put up with this? Hes cheating. Its obvious.”
“No, Luce, you dont understand”
“I understand perfectly. He spends two evenings a week at his exs place. Stays till God knows when. And youre telling me theyre just playing Lego with the kids?”
Emily dragged a hand down her face. She knew Lucy was right. But admitting it out loud meant admitting her marriage was a joke.
“He says theres nothing between them,” she whispered. “That its only for the kids.”
“Christ, youre naive,” Lucy sighed. “Em, open your eyes. Normal blokes dont spend half the night at their exs. Normal blokes pick the kids up, take them out, then drop them back. Yours sits at her kitchen table, eats her roast dinners, and probably holds her hand when the kids arent looking.”
“Luce, stop” Emily gripped the phone tighter.
“Stop? Fine. But remember thisyoull regret sticking with him. And when it happens, dont say I didnt warn you.”
The call ended. Emily stared at the ceiling. On the telly, some comedian was laughing loudly. None of it mattered.
David came back just before midnight. She heard him shuffle in the hallway, then head to the bathroom. He slid into bed beside her, and thats when she caught itthe faint, sickly-sweet scent of another womans perfume.
She didnt ask why he was late. She didnt have the energy. But David spoke first, settling under the covers.
“Sorry about the time. Had to help our little girl with a school project,” he mumbled, already half-asleep. “She made this funny little hedgehog out of pinecones.”
Emily nodded in the dark, knowing he couldnt see her.
This went on for months. Tuesday. Saturday. Him leaving. Coming back. The smell of perfume. The excuses.
Then David changed. He grew moody, distant. Spent whole evenings scowling at his phone. Emily tried asking what was wrong, but hed brush her off with a grumble and disappear into another room.
Two weeks later, he dropped the news.
“Listen, weve got a double date on Friday.”
Emily turned, eyebrows raised.
“With who?”
“Olivia and her new bloke.”
A wave of relief washed over her. Olivia had someone else? That meant David hadnt been cheating. All her fears had been for nothing.
A smile crept onto Emilys face. She turned and threw her arms around Davids neck.
“Of course. Lets go.”
Friday came quickly. She even bought a new dressa fitted, sky-blue one. She wanted to look good. Wanted to show Olivia she was the right choice.
They met at a cosy little café across townwooden tables, soft lighting. Olivia was already there with a man in his fortiestall, fit, with an easy smile.
“Hi,” Olivia stood to greet them. “This is Mark.”
She looked good. Slim, polished, effortlessly pretty.
Mark shook Davids hand, and they all sat down. Emily felt hopeful. Tonight would be fine. Theyd chat, laugh, then go their separate ways.
But the evening was a disaster.
David spent the whole night trying to one-up Mark, as if he was fighting to win Olivia back. He interrupted, talked over Mark, made sure everyone knew he knew Olivia best.
Mark suggested ordering a spicy pizza. David cut in immediately.
“Olivia doesnt like spicy.”
“I know,” Mark said calmly. “Weve talked about it. This is for us. Olivias having something else.”
But David wouldnt let up.
“Remember that time at the beach, Liv?” he said, ignoring Mark completely. “When our boy tried to drag a jellyfish ashore? Thought it was a toy.”
Olivia nodded, but irritation flickered across her face.
“David, that was ages ago.”
He kept goingstory after story about the kids, their shared past, the pram theyd picked out together, the sleepless nights when their son had colic.
Emily sat silent, gripping her water glass. Every word felt like a knife twisting. Olivia looked uncomfortable too, shooting David warning looks, trying to change the subject. But he didnt noticeor didnt care.
Then it hit her. David hadnt let go. He was still clinging to Olivia, to their past, to the life theyd had.
And Emily? She was the spare. The stand-in.
Her phone rangsome automated bank alert. But she seized the excuse.
“Sorry, Ive got to go. Family emergency.”
No one stopped her. David didnt even turn around. She hurried out, hailed a cab, and went home.
Inside the flat, she dragged out a suitcase and started packing. She couldnt take it anymore.
David came back an hour later, scowling. He froze when he saw the suitcase at her feet.
“Whats this?”
Emily looked up. Her eyes were dry. Shed run out of tears somewhere between folding jumpers and jeans.
“Im leaving.”
“What? Where?”
“Anywhere but here.” She pulled on her coat. “Tonight showed me the truth. Youre still in love with her. Or at least, you cant let her go. I dont know which is worse.”
“Dont be ridiculous”
“Dont lie.” She cut him off. “I saw how you acted. You spent the whole night marking your territory. And I was just there. An afterthought.”
David said nothing.
“I wont be your backup plan,” she said, grabbing the suitcase handle. “Im done.”
“Em, wait”
“No.” She shook her head. “I love you. But thatll fade. At least Ill keep whats left of my self-respect.”
She walked out. David just stood there, watching her go. No pleading. No explanations.
Emily hailed another cab and headed to her parents. As the car sped through the city, one thought filled her mindfinally, she was free.
