*”He married you, but he loves me,”* her best friend said, avoiding her gaze.
*”Emily, would you like some coffee?”* Charlotte asked, flicking the kettle on and pulling two mugs from the cupboard.
*”Go on. Strong, thoughmy heads splitting,”* Emily replied, rubbing her temples before slumping into a kitchen chair.
Charlotte measured out the coffee in silence, then turned back to her friend. Theyd known each other for over a decadesince universityand Charlotte could always read Emily in an instant. Tonight, she looked exhausted: dark circles under her eyes, hair hastily tied back.
*”Late night again?”* Charlotte ventured gently.
Emily nodded, tracing the pattern on the checkered tablecloth.
*”Working on reports till half one. The numbers wouldnt line up. Came home to Daniel already asleep. Woke uphed left for work. Its been like this all week.”*
Charlotte set a steaming mug in front of her and sat down. Something flickered in her eyes, but Emily missed it.
*”How are things, really? Since the wedding?”* Charlotte stirred sugar into her coffee.
*”Fine, I suppose,”* Emily shrugged. *”Adjusting. You know how the first year isMum says its all part of settling in.”*
*”Settling in,”* Charlotte repeated, bitterness seeping into her voice.
Emily finally looked up, studying her friends face.
*”Charlotte, whats wrong? Youre not yourself.”*
*”Im fine,”* Charlotte waved her off. *”Just tired. Works mad, and weve started renovating. My heads spinning.”*
But Emily wasnt fooled. They knew each other too well. That same looklike when Charlotte had confessed her crush on their philosophy lecturer years ago. That same tense energy.
*”Charlotte, tell me. Were best friends,”* Emily pressed.
Charlotte stood, walked to the window, and stared out at the garden. Then she turned sharply.
*”Emily, I need to say something. I dont know how youll take it.”*
*”What is it?”* Emilys pulse quickened.
*”Its about Daniel.”*
*”Daniel?”* Emily set her cup down slowly. *”What about him?”*
Charlotte stepped closer but kept her eyes down.
*”Weve been seeing each other. Six months.”*
Emily froze. The words didnt register at first.
*”Seeing each other?”*
*”Yes. After work. Weekends when you visit your parents. Emily, Im sorryI never meant It just happened.”*
*”Just happened?”* Emilys voice dropped, hardened. *”An affair ‘just happened’?”*
*”Dont call it that. We just understand each other. We talk, go for walks, the theatre”*
*”The theatre,”* Emily echoed. *”And the sex? Was that just for ‘understanding’ too?”*
Charlotte flushed. Silence was answer enough.
Emily stood, legs trembling, pride the only thing keeping her upright.
*”How long?”* Her voice was eerily calm.
*”I told you. Six months. Started before your wedding. We tried to stop. Thought wed forget each other. But after he called me.”*
*”After the wedding. So our honeymoonhe was thinking of you?”*
Charlottes head sank lower.
*”Emily, I know this hurts. But he married youand he loves me. I love him. We never wanted to hurt you, but”*
*”He married me, but loves you.”* The words fell like a verdict.
The kitchen was silent. Just the ticking clock, the hum of the fridge. Emily stood motionless; Charlotte still wouldnt meet her eyes.
*”Why tell me now?”* Emily finally asked. *”You couldve kept lying.”*
*”I couldnt. Daniel wanted to tell you, but I thought it should come from me. Were friends”*
*”Friends.”* Emilys laugh was hollow. *”Ten years of friendship. And this is where it ends.”*
*”Emily, pleaseyou cant choose who you love. It wasnt deliberate”*
*”Not deliberate?”* Emilys voice cracked. *”You stood at my wedding, toasted my happiness. Asked how we were. Told me to be patient with him!”*
*”I wanted it to work for you, I did. But I cant help it. I love him.”*
*”Does he love you?”*
Charlotte looked upand Emily saw the truth that shattered her.
*”Yes,”* Charlotte whispered. *”He says he realised too late. When he couldnt change anything.”*
*”Couldnt? A wedding isnt a death sentence. He couldve said no.”*
*”He didnt want to upset you. Thought hed grow to love you. Everyone said you were perfect together.”*
*”Perfect.”* Emily sank back into the chair, legs giving way. *”So he married me out of pity?”*
*”Not pity. Respect. He cares about you”*
*”But doesnt love me.”*
*”No. Im sorry.”*
Emily covered her face. Her thoughts blurred. Six months of marriageall while her husband and best friend betrayed her. The late nights, the excusesit all made sense now.
*”Where did you meet?”* Her voice was muffled.
*”My flat. Sometimes cafés across town.”*
*”Here. In this kitchen?”*
Charlottes silence was answer enough.
Emily grabbed her bag.
*”Where are you going?”* Charlotte panicked.
*”Home. To talk to my husband.”*
*”Emily, waitwe can figure this out!”*
*”Figure what out?”* Emily turned in the doorway. *”Shall we all live together? Or should I graciously hand him over and play the understanding friend?”*
*”I dont know. I just dont want to lose you.”*
*”You already did. The moment you slept with my husband.”*
*”Emily!”*
But Emily was already gone.
On the bus home, she stared blankly out the window. Passengers came and went; the world moved on. Only one phrase echoed in her mind: *”He married you, but loves me.”*
The flat was quiet. Daniel wouldnt be home for hours. Emily sat on their bed*their* bedand tried to remember the signs. His distraction. The lack of intimacy. Shed blamed stress, adjusting to married life.
Now she noticed more: Charlottes probing questions. Daniels frequent late nights. How Charlotte had stopped inviting her over.
The key in the lock made her jump. Daniel was early.
*”Em? You home?”* he called.
*”Here,”* she answered, surprised by her own steadiness.
He kissed her cheekroutine, automatic. A thirty-year-old man, unremarkable to anyone but her. *Had* been unremarkable.
*”How was work?”* he asked, shrugging off his jacket.
*”Fine. Yours?”*
*”Same old. Exhausted.”*
He went to shower. The ordinary sounds of an ordinary eveningif you ignored the lie.
Over dinner, he talked about projects, complained about his boss, made weekend plans. Emily listened and wondered: *Whos this performance for?*
*”Daniel,”* she said when he paused.
*”Hm?”*
*”Charlotte told me something today.”*
He froze, spoon mid-air. Then set it down slowly.
*”What did she say?”*
*”That youre having an affair.”*
He closed his eyes, exhaled. *”She told you herself?”*
*”Herself. In her kitchen. At the same table where youve probably had dinner.”*
*”Emily”*
*”Dont explain. Just tell me: is it true?”*
*”Yes,”* he opened his eyes. *”I was going to tell you. Ive been trying to”*
*”For days. While youve been lying for months.”*
*”Yes.”*
*”Since before we married?”*
*”Yes. We tried to stop, but”*
*”But true love couldnt be denied,”* Emily finished flatly.
Daniel stood, walked to the window.
*”I never wanted this. But I love her.”*
*”And me?”*
A pause. Then:
*”No. I thought Id grow to. Youre kind. I respect you. But love doesnt work on command.”*
*”Why marry me?”*
*”You wanted it. Everyone said we should. I thoughtwhy not? Youre safe. Reliable.”*
*”Safe. Like a savings account.”*
*”Dont say that. I never meant to hurt you.”*
*”And yet. Six months of lies. Was that painless?”*
He turned, and she saw shame in his eyes.
*”It wasnt. Lying every daypretendingits been hell.”*
*”Hell. Right. So what now?”*
*”I dont know. Divorce, I suppose.”*
*”Suppose,”* Emily agreed. *”And marry Charlotte?”*
*”If shell have me.”*
*”She will. She loves you. Simple.”*
Emily stood, clearing the table. Her hands shook, but she didnt stop.
*”Emily,”* Daniel called.
*”What?”*
*”Forgive me. I know its vile. But I couldnt help it.”*
*”You couldve,”* she said without turning. *”Not married me. Told the truth. Not lied for six months.”*
*”I was afraid to hurt you.”*
*”And hurt me worse.”*
He had no answer.
That night, they slept on opposite sides of the bed. Emily listened to his breathing, thinking how yesterday hed been her husbandtoday, a stranger. How one sentence could collapse a life.
Daniel left for work in silence the next morning. Emily called in sickshe needed time.
Walking through the flat, she searched for what she felt. Pain, yes. Anger. But alsorelief. The truth, at last.
Charlotte called at noon.
*”Emily, can we talk?”*
*”About what?”*
*”Everything. I need to explain.”*
*”You did.”*
*”Not properly. Please”*
Emily almost hung up. Curiosity won.
*”Talk.”*
*”Lets meet”*
*”Now or never.”*
A pause. Then, rushed:
*”I never planned this. We just talkedat your birthday, remember? You ran out for cake. He admitted he had doubts before the wedding. That he wasnt sure. And I I fell for him.”*
*”And?”*
*”We kept meeting. Just talking at first. He said he could be honest with me. Then it wasnt just talking.”*
*”So you stole your best friends fiancé.”*
*”I tried to stop him marrying you! He said he couldnt let you down.”*
*”How noble.”*
*”Emily, I know Ive been awful. But what was I supposed to do?”*
*”Walk away. Disappear.”*
*”I tried! After the wedding, I ignored him for weeks. He came to me.”*
*”And you caved.”*
*”Yes. Because I was miserable too.”*
Once, Emily mightve pitied her. Nownothing.
*”Charlotte,”* she said. *”You won. Hes yours. Why ask for forgiveness too?”*
*”Because I care about you!”*
*”Not enough.”* Emily hung up.
That evening, she met Daniel at the door with a suitcase.
*”Your things. Ill file for divorce tomorrow.”*
He nodded, took it.
*”Where will I stay?”*
*”Charlottes, I assume.”*
*”Emily,”* he hesitated. *”If you need help with the paperwork”*
*”Ill manage.”*
*”Alright. Im sorry.”*
*”Youre forgiven,”* she said, and shut the door.
Then she sat and criedproperly, for the first time. And when the tears dried, she felt something new: freedom.
The divorce was quick, amicable. Daniel didnt fight for the flat her parents had given her; she didnt ask for alimony.
A month later, she heard he and Charlotte had moved in together. It didnt hurtjust surprised her, how little she felt for people whod once meant everything.
Then, one Sunday in the park, a man with a dog helped her pick up dropped groceries. They talked. He looked at her in a way Daniel never had.
*”Fancy a coffee?”* he asked.
*”Alright,”* Emily said. And for the first time in months, she smiled.
