Emily stood by the kitchen bin, lifting the lid with a frown. “And this dress!” she snapped. “Are you telling me *I* threw it in here?”
Nearly every day, Emily asked herself the same unanswerable question: what had she ever seen in James?
He was unremarkableso much so that she was embarrassed to introduce him to her friends, who still assumed she lived alone. Only her sister knew about him, and she kept the secret well.
James hadnt achieved muchjust a mechanic at a steelworks. Sometimes, while watching telly, Emily caught herself thinking it was time to end things. But then hed bring flowers or a little gift, and shed postpone the inevitable.
Before Emily, James had been marriedbriefly. Two months, in fact, but long enough for a baby. His daughter was twelve now, and Emily had never met her. Nor did she want to.
Then, just before her birthdayplanned as a girls’ night outJames broached the subject hesitantly. “Emily, my ex has a business trip. Shes asked if I can take Lily for a while.”
“How long?” Emily grimaced.
“A month.”
“A *month*? Why so long? And I suppose were footing the bill?”
“She didnt send any money,” James admitted, shrugging helplessly.
“So you pay child support, and now we host her for free? Brilliant.”
James looked baffled. “Im her *dad*. Should I just turn her away?”
“You shouldve asked *me* first. This is *my* flat. And its my *birthday*I dont want it ruined!”
The next day, a round-faced girl with garish makeuplooking nearer sixteen than twelvearrived. She glared at Emily and demanded, “Where do I sleep?”
“The kitchen,” James said weakly.
Lily rolled her eyes and locked herself in the loo, sobbing.
“Charming,” Emily hissed. “Good thing Im celebrating at a café. Youre staying here.”
James frowned. “I thought youd finally introduce me to your friends. Weve lived together six months”
“Youre babysitting,” Emily said, relieved she wouldnt have to explain him to her stylish mates.
The next morning, Emily ironed her party dress and left it hanging. James didnt even wish her a happy birthday.
After work, she rushed home to changeonly to find the dress gone.
“Where is it?” she shrieked, storming into the kitchen where Lily lounged on the camp bed, ignoring her.
Emily snatched the girls phone. “Answer me!”
“Give it back!” Lily wailed as James hurried in.
“Wheres my dress?” Emily snarled.
“I didnt take anything!” Lily retorted. “She just hates me!”
James stepped between them. “Give it back, *now*.”
“Oh, *shell* confess!” Emily threw the phoneshattering the screen. Lily burst into tears as Emily marched off, scrambling to find another outfit.
At the café, she pushed the drama aside and resolved to end things.
She returned at dawn. James sat up in bed. “Do you know what time it is?”
“Playing the stern husband? Too late. Pack your thingsboth of you.”
“So *Im* the villain?” Emily scoffed.
“You broke Lilys phone”
“*She* stole my dress!”
“My daughter didnt take anything!” James shot back.
Emily rolled her eyes and reached for a half-finished wine bottle. One sip, and she spat it out. “Shampoo? Did *I* pour this too?” She laughed bitterlythen froze, spotting the dress in the bin. “Well, look what we have here!”
“Youve been looking for an excuse,” James said quietly. “I heard your calls with your sister. I *know*.”
Emily paled.
“This is over.” James didnt fight it. He understood.
As the door closed behind him, Emily stared at the dress. Some things, she realized, are ruined long before theyre thrown away.
