She hadnt expected the turn the night took. After more than twenty years of marriage, Diana felt the distance growing between her and Andrew, as if the warmth that once lit their evenings had thinned. She thought of the familiar phrase about a crisis in a marriage and wondered whether Andrew had become fascinated with another woman. It could happen, she mused, but I dont want it.
She was growing weary of the routine. At the office, her coworkers complained about their own husbands, some even admitting to finding solace elsewhere. Diana, however, never entertained the idea; it felt improper, almost like a betrayal of something sacred.
One crisp morning, as she prepared to leave for work, Andrew asked, Could you pick up a bottle of aftershave? Im out. He held up the empty sprayer, smiled, pressed a kiss to her cheek and added, You always know exactly what I need.
Sure, Ill swing by on my way, she replied.
After work she drifted into the Westfield Mall, the place she visited almost daily. She headed straight to the cosmetics aisle, bought the aftershave for Andrew and a lipstick for herself. At the checkout, a clumsy motion sent a few coins scattering across the floor. She crouched, gathering the loose change with quick fingers.
A pleasant male voice floated from above, Heres another one.
She smiled without looking up, Keep it, love. Its for luck.
He insisted, They say you can give away a piece of happiness with a coin.
She sighed, You cant take happiness from someone who has none.
She took the coin anyway, thanked the stranger, paid, and stepped out. Walking slowly toward the bus stop, the same voice called, Excuse me, are you waiting for the bus? Let me give you a lift.
A fleeting thought of not again slipped through her mind, yet she found herself consenting. Its not far for me.
A car idled nearby, its door swung open, and she slipped into the front seat.
What a sleek and comfortable ride, she said.
Reliable above all, the driver replied. By the way, Im Oliver. And you are?
Diana, she answered.
Pleasure, Diana, he said in a rehearsed tone, If youre not in a hurry, perhaps we could continue our conversation over a coffee? You dont look like youre rushing home.
Why is that? she asked, blushing.
Because you mentioned happiness earlier
She trailed off, feeling oddly exposed. She knew she had everything: a house, a stable job, a grownup daughter whod just finished university and married.
Oliver studied her a moment longer. But you cant honestly say everything at home is perfect, can you?
She countered, And you cant claim your wife is the perfect one otherwise we wouldnt be sitting here.
He paused, then confessed, Its true. Im on my second marriage; shes ten years younger. My first wife didnt want children, and with my second I imagined a home full of pies and little ones. Yet neither happened. Shes lazy, Im fortyfive, and she simply doesnt want more.
Word by word they slipped into a familiar rhythm, switching to first names, trading book recommendations, film opinions, and stories about acquaintances. Their dialogue flowed, oddly synchronized.
At last, Diana glanced at her watch, sighed, I must be going. Thank you for the lift. She stepped out, waving, and they exchanged phone numbers, promising to meet again.
She thought about ending it then, but Oliver shook his head. I dont think thats wise. His silence felt like an unspoken agreement.
That evening, Andrew was still at work, so Diana didnt have to justify her late return. The next day was Friday, and Oliver called after lunch.
Ive missed you, his voice said. When can we see each other again?
After five, at the mall? she suggested.
Dont be late. Ill be waiting.
Andrew had mentioned a Friday lads night with colleagues, so Diana hurried home, feeling a knot of guilt that loosened the moment she saw Oliver waiting.
They spent the evening wandering the citys lanternlit streets, pausing by a pond in the park beneath a towering lime tree. There, away from the occasional strolling couple, they kissed for what felt like an eternity, each tasting the sweet ache of forbidden longing.
Its been ages since Ive felt like this, Diana whispered as they finally parted. Oliver clung to her, reluctant to let go.
Back at home, she wiped her makeup from the mirror, rationalising to herself, Its not betrayal. Andrew is rarely home; hes always working late. Oliver well, Ill just let things be for now.
Her secret meetings with Oliver became a refuge, echoing the rumors shed heard at work. They met in cafés, took weekend trips to the countryside, rented a room in a B&B, even shared frantic minutes in the back seat of his car. Their encounters were hot, their partings painful, and their reunions inevitablea relentless cycle that felt like a punch to the gut.
Six months slipped by. Andrew remained oblivious, absorbed in his own world. Diana never pressed him for explanations; his absence suited her. Yet the yearning for Oliver grew, and they talked more seriously about what lay ahead. Just as Diana was poised to end her marriage, Oliver burst out one evening, I have an emergency.
Whats happened? she asked.
My wife is pregnant.
You said
Yes, I said I was single. Now I cant just walk away from a pregnant wife and our child. I may not love her, but the baby means something to me.
The revelation struck Diana like a bolt. She had believed Oliver was devoted solely to her, that his marriage would dissolve and they would be together.
Who do you truly love? she whispered, tears spilling. I dont trust anyone now. Was I ever yours, or just another illusion?
I love you, Diana. I always will. But I cant abandon my wife now, you understand?
She sighed, Its the same old storyseeking romance with a married man, getting burned, realizing its all a lie.
Oliver tried to explain, I never expected her to want a child. She saw a different side of me and decided to tie me down. She knows my weakness.
Angry and hurt, Diana fled, shouting, I hate you! Youre just like everyone else! She ran to the bus stop; Oliver didnt chase.
The days that followed were a nightmare. She wept in the bathtub, feeling hollow. Andrew, noticing her gloom, suggested, Lets take a break together. Were both exhausted. A holiday might help us start anew.
She welcomed the idea. They booked a seaside getaway to Brighton, spent sunsoaked days together, and rediscovered a tenderness that made her see Andrew in a new light. Returning home, she swapped her SIM card, claiming, Im tired of unwanted calls, and Andrew pretended to believe her.
A year later, Diana spotted Oliver again, hunched and weary, browsing a supermarket aisle. He didnt notice her; she thought, Hes become a shadow of his former self, weighed down by sleepless nights and little ones. She smiled to herself, content with the life she now led. The marital crisis had faded; she and Andrew were happy, their bond stronger than ever.
