“You’re not my wifewe never got married, did we?”
“What kind of wife am I to you? Did we go to the registry office? Sign any papers? Slip a ring on my finger?”
Emily lowered her eyes. Shed dreamed of all that, but years passed, and life rolled on without formalities.
“No! No! And no!” snapped David. “Youre nothing to me! What gave you the idea you could call yourself my wife?”
“Dave, please, talk to me!” she pleaded, reaching for his hand.
“Got anything useful to add?” He pulled away. “Youve already said too much!”
“But I didnt say anything wrong” Emily mumbled.
“Mark my words: silence is golden! Especially for you!” He turned pointedly toward the window.
“Stop sulking, love!” She moved closer.
“Shouldve kept your mouth shut!” David threw up his hands. “How do you women have the talent to wreck everything with one sentence? Do they teach you how to push men to heart attacks in school?”
Emily thought he was still upset about their morning rowDavid had smashed two mugs, his and hers.
“How could you?” shed fumed. “Most people have hands, but yours? Like useless rakes! Break yours, finebut why touch mine? Just so Id have none left?”
A petty spat, the kind you shrug off. But David had stormed out to work, then spent the evening in icy silence. He ignored her, skipped dinner despite her calling him three times. Time to make peace.
“Oh, come on, well buy new mugs at Harrods on Saturday! And your handsjust practice!”
“What mugs?” Davids eyes flashed. “Do you even realise what youve done with your big mouth?”
“I can apologise” Emily faltered. “Dont be angry!”
“Apologise?” He let out a shrill laugh. “If sorry could erase your words, Id be over the moon! Instead, youve just finished me off!”
“God, what did I even say?” It finally dawned on herthis wasnt about crockery.
“Who told my boss today she was speaking to Davids *wife*?” he seethed.
“You were in the shower, the phone rang” she stammered. “I answered, said to hold. She asked who I was. So I said his wife. When I passed the phone, shed hung up. Whats the crime?”
“Youre seriously asking?” Davids face turned crimson, a vein throbbing at his temple. “What wife? Did we sign papers? Exchange rings?”
Emily swallowed. Shed dreamed of it, but
“No! No! And no!” he roared. “Youre *nothing*! What gave you the right to call yourself my wife?”
***
“How longs this circus going on?” Margaret smirked.
“Mum” Emily frowned. “Times have changed. You of all peopleafter Dad, you had your own flings!”
“Dont lie about your mother!” Margaret kept smiling. “At my age, gossip doesnt stick. But youre youngthink ahead!”
“Mum, fifty-five isnt old! You could still remarry!”
“If a decent man comes alongwhy not?” She smoothed her silver strands. “Till then, Ill manage with substitutes.”
“Youre impossible!” Emily snorted.
Then her mother turned serious.
“Love, I get itcohabitings common now, kids born out of wedlock. But legally? Its nothing. No security!”
“If theres love, you dont need security.”
“Love fadesthen what? A proper husband means alimony, a share in assets. Without papers? Youll get nothing, not even in court!”
“David and I are fine! Six years together. Why bother with a certificate? We earn the same.”
“Not good enough!” Margaret wagged a finger. “Nudge him! Call him hubby, joke about being wifey. Ease him into it. Thenwalk down the aisle!”
“What if I scare him off?” Emily shook her head. “Happiness is fragiledont tempt fate.”
“Your life,” Margaret sighed. “But rememberresponsibility marks adulthood. What youve got? Just chaos.”
***
Her mothers advice stuck. Marriage was a womans safety net. Even her friend Charlotte agreed:
“Imagine you get a mortgage. Its in Davids name. If you split?”
“Pessimist!”
“Say he gifts the flat to his nephew. You couldnt even object! Court without a certificate? Wasted stress.”
“Ill keep receipts, find witnesses!”
“Or” Charlotte grinned, “just marry him.”
“Mum says to tease him as hubby. Ease him in.”
“So do it!”
***
Emily started calling David “husband” at every chance. At first, he chuckledbut soon grew used to it. She even believed the game herselfuntil she told his boss, “This is his wife.”
***
“Six years together!” Emilys voice trembled. “I thought we were family. Kids, growing old side by side”
“You shouldve stayed quiet!” He paced furiously. “Why approach Sarah? Now Im sacked!”
“But I always call you my husband!”
“The difference is, youve killed my career!” David slammed his keys down. “I wont just skip the registryIm leaving! Packing now!”
“Youre serious?” She froze. “So I said wife”
“Sarah kept me on out of personal interest. Now Im married? Youre in her way!”
***
A week later, Sarah herself rang the doorbell.
“Sorry to intrude,” she said, “but I wanted to explain. Not about the sackingyour years of deceit. We all thought he was single”
“We never signed papers,” Emily whispered.
“Live-in girlfriend,” Sarah corrected. “But youre free now. And honestly” She smiled faintly, “hes not worth it. Not a husband, not a partnerjust a man-child.”
Emily nodded. There was nothing left to say.
In the end, she learned: love without commitment is just a house built on sandone storm, and it crumbles. True partnership needs roots.
