Emily, wait I havent cheated on you, you hear me? Id swear on my health, or even on my mother! I shouted as I raced down the stairs after my wife, my voice echoing through the cramped hallway. I didnt care that a few nosy neighbours craned their heads from their doorways, or that the buildings residents paused to listen to the drama unfolding outside their flats.
Emily bolted out of the entrance, hailed a black cab and vanished down the street. I could only watch her disappear as the taxi swallowed her whole.
It all began three months ago, when my life started to go downhill. A colleague, with whom Id always kept things strictly professional, had suffered a personal tragedya failed pregnancy followed by a swift divorce. After months of rehabilitation she returned to the office, but she was a different woman.
Listen, I cant take this any longer, she told me, her voice trembling. Shes been stalking me for a monthlatenight calls, messages, even showing up at my flat. I stormed into the directors office, venting my frustration.
Mr. Thompson just chuckled. It happens. Shes infatuated, what can you do? I dont see any crime here, he said.
But Ive done nothing! We only ever spoke about work. Now my marriage is falling apart because of Olivia, I barked.
What do you expect from me? Olivia as an employee is fine, but what happens outside work isnt my concern, the director shrugged.
Desperation set in. I had tried to ignore the situation, to pretend everything was normal, but it was no longer possible. Arguments with Emily grew, and she began to doubt my fidelity. She couldnt believe a woman could fabricate the messages, hints, and photographs that now haunted us.
Emily, I beg you, dont start accusing. Ive never been unfaithful, I pleaded.
You sound like youre just making excuses for all those messages, she replied coldly. Do you think Im a fool who cant add two and two?
Its all Olivias doing. I block her number, she writes from elsewhere. Shes just a puppet, and the boss likes her numbers, so Im stuck. How do I prove Im clean? I asked.
I dont know, George. Im exhausted. Its been three months and I dont trust you any more. There are too many coincidences, too many Olivias in our lives
Enough! Shes not mine. I dont need her! I shouted.
I dont know, George. I just dont know
I kept wondering why I could no longer believe her. Earlier, Id caught her deleting messages on a nervous impulse, and Id seen her remove some photographs. Then she started staying late at work, becoming irritable and withdrawn.
Maybe Im being paranoid? Emily asked herself.
Olivia moved methodically, like a seasoned strategist. Once shed been a sweet, quiet woman: married, on maternity leave, then a nervous breakdown after a forced abortion and a husband who left her. She returned to the office, first acting normal, then offering small gestures that never quite crossed the line into flirtation. I brushed them off a compliment in the corridor, a friendly smile.
Soon Olivia slammed into our family life like a gale, uprooting years of trust.
Emily and I began to accidentally meet her at the local supermarket, though she lived in a different borough. She started going to the same gym as me, slipping into my phone calls with comments like, Youre as cute as a kitten or Ive made you a coffee, why arent you coming over?
One day Olivia orchestrated a chance meeting at our flat.
George, could you help? My friend next door isnt answering, and my phones on two percent. Im scared I wont get a cab. Are you home? Please come down if you can, she purred from a new number.
Emily shrugged, not wanting to abandon a stranger in the evening, but she kept an eye on me from the window. When Olivia saw me emerging from the stairwell, she threw her arms around my neck and clung for ages. That was enough for Emily.
Later that night a message pinged on my phone. Emily, unable to sleep, read it and felt a chill:
Thanks for coming, otherwise shed probably be watching you. Ill be half an hour late tomorrow as we planned.
George you were supposed to meet a friend tomorrow, Emily whispered, stunned.
For the first time she typed a reply: Well talk in the morning. Im sleeping now. Ill call you myself. A quick response came back: Got it. Im waiting for your call. You know Im always here!
Emily sat frozen, unsure what to do. At dawn she decided to stay with her sister for a while, to think things over away from me and Olivia. She started packing quietly.
I woke to the jangle of keys. My phone lay on the pillow. Sensing something wrong, I leapt out of bed, rushed to the front door, and, after a desperate attempt to stop Emily from leaving, returned to the flat, pacing like a cornered animal. The situation had turned absurd.
Emily ignored my calls. Her sister asked me not to disturb her.
Days dragged on. I felt lost, knowing I had to prove my innocence and win back the trust of the woman I loved.
After a week I finally gathered the courage to call Emilys sister and request a meeting with Emily.
Emily, please give me one chance. I know you dont believe me, but I have something that could change everything. After this meeting youll decide whether we stay together or part forever, I begged.
After much persuasion she agreed.
We drove in silence. I kept my eyes on the road, glancing at Emily now and then, trying to read her in the dim light outside.
Emily, I need to ask you something, I said as we parked in front of a typical terraced house. Im going to blindfold you. Well walk a short distance together. Trust me.
She looked at me skeptically but complied. I guided her gently by the elbow. Inside a building, the smell of fresh paint hit her nose.
Are we on a construction site? she asked, uneasy.
Not quite, I answered.
I removed the blindfold. A dull light illuminated an old school sports hallthe very place where our story began.
In the centre, on a bench, lay a bouquet of white lilies. Emily froze.
Emily, do you know the moment I realised I was in love with you? I asked.
She stared at the high ceiling, silent.
It wasnt at the prom, I continued. It was when I started at this school in Year Ten. Id missed a few days and ended up in PE. I walked in, didnt know anyone. In the corner, I saw youblushing after a volleyball match, hair tied up, curls damp from the rain. You laughed, and it was infectious. That instant I knew Id love you forever.
She listened, tears threatening, remembering nothing of that day. I spoke of how I had mustered the courage over months to ask you out, thanking fate for leading me to that hall.
Ive never betrayed you, I whispered, taking her hands. All this time Ive been yours alone.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. She lifted her gaze, meeting the sincerity in my eyes that had never faded.
Ill do anything quit my job, get Olivia to leave hers, move to another city or even another countryjust to make you believe I never cheated, she said, voice shaking.
We stood in that old hall, the place where our love first sparked, and understood that true love can survive any storm, even one sent by a jealous stranger.
