“I didn’t invite you,” whispered my friend when she saw me at her birthday party. The words were quiet, but Emily heard every syllable. She stood in the doorway holding a bouquet of white roses, wearing a new blue dress she’d bought especially for the occasion. Behind Olivia, voices laughed, glasses clinked, and the celebration was in full swing.
“I know,” Emily replied, offering the flowers. “But does it matter? We’ve been friends for twenty years.”
Olivia didnt take the bouquet. She closed the door slightly behind her, as if shielding the party from an uninvited guest.
“*Were* friends,” she corrected. “Come in, since you’re here.”
Emily stepped inside, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. Conversations died. Familiar facespeople shed spent weekends with, celebrated New Years with, shared joys and sorrows withstared at her with awkward curiosity.
“Emily!” Charlotte blurted, breaking the silence. “What a surprise! We didnt think youd come.”
“Why wouldnt I?” Emily forced a smile. “Liv, happy birthday. Wishing you health, happiness, and all your dreams coming true.”
“Thanks,” Olivia replied flatly.
Sophie, perched on the sofa with a wineglass, smirked as she approached.
“Wheres your Daniel?” she asked pointedly. “Couldnt make it?”
Emilys cheeks burned. Of course they all knew. In their circle, secrets didnt stay hidden longespecially not ones this loud.
“Hes at home,” she murmured.
“Whose home?” Sophie pressed. “Yours or his wifes?”
“Sophie!” Olivia snapped. “Enough.”
“Why is it enough?” Sophie shot back. “We all know the truth, so why pretend? Emily, you *do* understand why Olivia didnt invite you, dont you?”
Emily set the roses on a side table. The white blooms looked out of place among the party snacks and champagne flutes.
“I do,” she said. “But I came anyway. Because no matter what, I still consider Liv my friend.”
“Friends dont do what you did,” Charlotte cut in. “Friends dont sleep with married men.”
“Especially not their best friends husband,” Sophie added.
The silence was heavy. Emily searched Olivias eyes for even a flicker of understanding but found only pain.
“Maybe I should go,” Emily said.
“Dont,” Olivia said suddenly. “Sit down. If youre here, you might as well stay. Just dont expect pleasantries.”
Emily sank into an armchair in the corner. Gradually, chatter resumed, but she was an outsider nowglanced at, whispered about, excluded.
“Remember,” Olivia said to Charlotte, “how Emily and I met? First year of uni, in the cafeteria. She was eating some awful vending-machine sandwich, and I had Mums homemade scones. I sat with her, shared them. We talked all evening.”
“I remember,” Charlotte nodded. “You said youd met a true friend.”
“I did,” Olivia said with a sad smile. “How naïve I was.”
Emily clenched her fists. Every word cut deeper. She wanted to explain, to defend herselfbut no one would listen.
“And I remember,” Sophie said, “how Emily helped Liv with her dissertation. Stayed up all night proofreading. Liv got a first.”
“And she was maid of honor at Livs wedding,” Charlotte added. “So pretty in that blush dress. Everyone said she outshone the bride.”
“Probably eyeing Daniel even then,” Sophie muttered.
“Stop it!” Emily burst out. “I *know* I made a mistake. I *know* I hurt you. But dont paint me as some scheming villain!”
She stood, pacing.
“Yes, Im seeing Daniel. Yes, hes married to Liv. But I didnt seduce him! It just… happened.”
“Nothing *just happens*,” Olivia said quietly. “Especially affairs. Its always a choice.”
“I know. And I made mine,” Emily admitted. “Because I love him. More than Ive ever loved anyone.”
“Did you ever think of *me*?” Olivia asked. “Your best friend? How Id feel finding out my husband was sleeping with *you*?”
Emily slumped back into the chair, tears pricking her eyes.
“I did. Every day. It tortures me. But I cant stop.”
“You could,” Sophie said sharply. “You just dont want to.”
“Daniels unhappy in his marriage,” Emily insisted. “He told me that *before* anything started.”
“All married men tell their mistresses that,” Sophie scoffed. “Standard excuse.”
“But its true! Liv, you *know* things havent been right between you two. You live like roommates, not husband and wife.”
Olivia paled.
“How do *you* know how we live?”
“Daniel told me.”
“He discussed our private life with you?” Olivias voice shook. “Shared intimate details with his mistress?”
Emily realized her mistake too late.
“He didnt want to hurt you with a public divorce. So we kept it quiet.”
“How noble,” Charlotte said drily. “A real Romeo and Juliet.”
“Dont mock me,” Emily whispered. “I never meant for this. We just… met at the library. He was researching, I was writing. We talked, went for coffee, then”
“Wait,” Olivia interrupted. “What research? Daniel finished his PhD years ago.”
Emily froze.
“He… said he was working on another. In economics.”
Sophie and Charlotte exchanged glances. Olivia set her glass down slowly.
“Daniel has a doctorate in *law*. Hes not studying anything.”
Emilys stomach dropped. Had he lied from the start? About *what else*?
“Maybe I misunderstood,” she faltered.
“You didnt,” Olivia said. “My husbands a bigger liar than I thought. Cheating *and* deceiving you.”
“Dont call me that.”
“What should I call you? *Friend*?” Olivia laughed bitterly. “After what youve done?”
“Liv, I know I messed up. But does twenty years of friendship mean nothing? Cant you forgive me?”
“Some things cant be forgiven,” Olivia said. “Betrayal kills trust forever.”
Emily stood. There was no point staying.
“Goodbye, then,” she said. “I truly wish you happiness.”
“Likewise,” Olivia replied. “Just not with my husband.”
As Emily slipped on her coat in the hallway, Charlotte followed.
“Wait,” she said quietly. “Emily… are you sure Daniel loves you?”
“Of course. Why?”
Charlotte hesitated.
“Hes cheated before. With others. Told them all the same thingthat he was unhappy, that Liv didnt understand him.”
Emilys breath caught.
“Youre lying.”
“Liv never talked about it. Maybe she was ashamed. Or hoped hed change.”
“Then why stay married?”
“Would *you* leave?” Charlotte asked. “Eighteen years together? A home, a life, the fear of starting over at forty?”
Emily walked out into the chilly evening, her mind reeling. Memories of Danielhis promises, his whispers of lovefelt hollow now.
At home, Daniel was sprawled on the sofa, watching telly with a beer. He grinned.
“How was the party?”
“Daniel,” Emily said, sitting across from him. “We need to talk.”
“About what?” He didnt look up.
“Us. Your marriage.”
Now he turned. “Whats wrong?”
“Am I the first woman youve cheated with?”
His pause told her everything.
“No. But youre different, Em. This is real.”
“Real enough to leave your wife?”
He stiffened.
“Its complicated”
“Then uncomplicate it,” she interrupted. “And explain why you lied about your PhD.”
He paled. “Who told you?”
“Your *wife*. Remember her? My ex-best friend.”
He paced. “I didnt mean to lie. When we met, you seemed so clever. I wanted to impress you.”
“By *lying*?” Emilys voice broke. “If youd lie about that, what else is fake?”
“Em, dont overreact. Its just a degree.”
“Not to me. If I cant trust you with small things, how can I trust you with big ones?”
He reached for her. “I love you.”
“Do you love *her*?”
Silence.
“Daniel. *Do you love your wife?*”
“…Yes,” he admitted. “But differently. Not like you.”
Something inside her shattered. Months of illusions, gone.
“Get out,” she said.
“What?”
“Go back to her. The woman you *do* love.”
“Youre ending this?”
“Yes,” she said, holding the door open. “And I need to apologize to Liv. I doubt shell forgive me.”
