**A Sea of Doubts**
The night had fallen, rain had just stopped, and through the window, Emily saw her blurred reflectiona woman with a tangled soul. For months, she had been torn between two men. Between duty and passion. Between the past and the future.
The first was Daniel, her husband. With him, she felt safe, warm, and comfortable. Over six years of marriage, he had built around her a cosy, unshakable fortress. The second In her mind, she called him nothing but “the boy.” He was younger, and in that word lay an overwhelming, terrifying tenderness she was afraid to set free, even in her own thoughts.
Daniel had been introduced by friends.
After a humiliating break-up with her school sweetheart, who had chosen her best friend instead, Emily had withdrawn, swearing off relationships. She convinced herself she was doomed to be a spectator in other peoples love storiesno grand declarations, no armfuls of roses, no sleepless nights of joyjust grey monotony.
Until one evening, at a party, her friend pointed out Daniel:
*”Look, thats the architect I told you about. Clever, promising. And most importantlysolid as granite.”*
Daniel looked older than his years, dressed formally, almost old-fashioned. But when he spoke, the world seemed to shift. He was a brilliant conversationalistwitty, sharp, his jokes precise but never cruel. Within an hour, Emily felt he saw right through her.
*”You, Emily, are like a Pre-Raphaelite painting come to life,”* he said as they parted, admiring her face. *”Just as untouchable and sorrowful.”*
She had to look up who the Pre-Raphaelites were, and she marvelled at his knowledge. That was just the beginning. The architect was persistent, and Emily, exhausted by loneliness, gave in almost at once. Two months later, she moved in with him.
Her parents frowned.
*”Are you sure, love?”* her mother pressed. *”You look at him not with love in your eyes, but like a grateful kitten taken in by a kind family.”*
Emily brushed it off. How could there be any doubt?
Six months later, they married. Daniel built a perfect world around her, shielding her from chores, worries, any storm. He called her his Princess, himself her Faithful Knight. She thought men like him didnt exist anymore.
*”Why should you cook?”* hed say, bustling in the kitchen. *”A womans calling is to be happy, to inspire her husband. Relax.”*
She revelled in his care, savouring her flawless role in this perfect play. But when she brought up children, imagining what a devoted father hed be, Daniel gently stopped her:
*”Lets not rush happiness, Princess. Arent we happy just the two of us?”*
So passed five years.
The cracks in their serene life appeared the day Emily collided with a stranger outside a business centre. Rushing to a crucial meeting, she crashed into someone solid yet yielding.
*”Im so sorry!”* she gasped, looking up.
A young man stood there, reminding her of some actorgolden hair, eyes deep with laughter.
*”No harm done,”* he smiled. *”No disaster yet. Running late?”*
She nodded and dashed off, feeling his gaze on her back. During her presentation, she spotted him in the front row, grinning right at her. Her breath caught; her voice faltered.
He waited for her afterward.
*”You left so fast, I thought you were rushing off again. Need a lift? This time, no collisions.”*
Always so cautious, so sensibleyet suddenly, she agreed.
***
Emily lost her head. Shed forgotten how passion felthow the world shrank to one person, to the sound of his voice, his smile. How *”How was your day?”* could sound like the most beautiful melody.
*”I feel awake when Im with you,”* she told him once.
*”And I feel like I can breathe for the first time in years,”* he replied.
His name was Leo. Not *”the boy,”* noLeo! Strong, fearless. After months of stolen meetings, she was ready to leave everything for him.
But then
First, her mother fell seriously ill. How could she burden her recovery with divorce news? She waited. Then Daniel fell, broke his leg, was in a cast for months. Of course, she postponed the painful conversation. Playing nurse gave her a reprieve.
By the time Danielher Knightstill limped with a cane, her passion for Leo dimmed, replaced by cold logic. *”Think carefully. Daniel is stability. Hes your home.”* But her heart howled: *”Leo!”*
Meanwhile, Leo grew impatient, demanding more. One evening, as Emily preened before a mirror, pretending to prepare for a work meetingLeo waited outsideDaniel approached, leaning on his cane.
*”You look beautiful tonight, Princess. Like on our first date.”*
His voice held such boundless love and trust that something in her shattered.
*”Daniel I need to tell you something”* she whispered, trembling.
*”Important?”* He smiled softly. *”Well talk tonight. Ill make your favourite roast. Dont be late.”*
He kissed her head, and it burned like a brand.
Leo waited by his car. The moment she sat inside, his hand closed around hers.
*”So? Did you tell him?”*
*”I couldnt Hes still weak”*
Leo slowly released her. *”Pity. Duty. Gratitude. But tell mewhen will it be our turn? Did you think of me?”*
She closed her eyes, heart splintering. *”Just a little more time.”*
*”Time,”* he scoffed bitterly. *”We never had that from the start.”*
They drove to a hotel. Watching his tense profile, she knew she was losing him. And at home, Daniel waited, blindly trusting her, with dinner ready.
How exhausting, torn between love and duty. Lying. Hiding. She had to choosebut whom? Why couldnt she decide?
At their next meeting, she begged Leo for one more month. He agreed. Then, on Daniels birthday, a text came: *”Last chance. If you dont come, its over.”*
An ultimatum. Perfect timing. Her blood ran coldshe couldnt go tonight.
Daniel unwrapped her giftan expensive watchthen studied her quietly.
*”Thank you, Princess. But I dont need a watch.”*
*”Why? You said you liked this model.”*
*”That was long ago Back when you looked at me the way you now stare at your phone, waiting for a message. Who is he?”*
She froze. He knew. For how long? Strangely, instead of shame, relief washed over her. The mountain of lies had crumbled.
*”I didnt want to hurt you, especially after”*
*”You think you lied for me?”* His voice was dry, unfamiliar. *”Fine. Then Im not hurt. But were done.”*
Emily didnt go to Leo straight away.
She sat on a bench outside, smokingthough shed quit years ago. Her hands shook, but inside, an eerie calm settled. Everything had collapsed: Daniels perfect world, her role as Princess, the fortress now a cage.
Now she was just Emily. Free of secrets. Alone, a little guilty, and frighteningly lightlike a feather the wind could blow anywhere.
And the wind blew toward Leo.
She reread his text: *”Im waiting. Last time. Dont come, and its over.”* Once, those words wouldve set her pulse racing. Now, only a dull pang of dread.
His flat was in a new part of town. The taxi ride was silent. In the lift, her heart finally quickened. She imagined him opening the door, pulling her close, his eyes alightfinally, theyd be together.
It was just beginning.
The door opened instantly, as if hed been waiting. But Leo didnt embrace her. He stepped back, solemn, weary.
*”I did it. I told him. Im free. Do you hear me?”*
She said it hopefully, waiting for relief, joybut he just walked to the window, silent.
*”Congratulations.”*
No joy in his voice. Only detached sadness.
*”What? Youre just going to stand there?”* she pressed. *”This is what we waited for! Nothings in our way now!”*
He shook his head slowly. None of his old energy remained.
*”We waited, yes. But Ive waited too long.”*
A pause.
*”You say nothings in our way. But your husband was never the obstacle. You were. Your doubts. Your delays. Your endless ‘just a little longer.’ Ive beaten myself bloody against your indecision. And now? There
