On a carpet of golden leaves…
Emily glanced at the medication chart, plucked another blister pack, and pressed the pills into plastic cups. The same routine every daypreparing doses for patients. Was this all life would be? A blur of repetition. Alone. Her heart ached, fresh as a wound. She replayed yesterdayevery cruel word from her husband, each one a stinging echo in her chest.
She tossed the empty blister into the bin, grabbed a bottle, poured a handful of tablets into her palm, and began portioning them faster and faster. Her mind, though, was far away…
“Emily, what on earth are you doing?” The head nurses voice cut through the air.
Emily startled, the bottle slipping from her grip, knocking over the cups. She stared blankly at the scattered pills.
“Whats wrong with you? You couldve killed someone with a double dose! Step away!” The head nurse nudged her aside. “Good grief, what a mess!”
“Sorry, MargaretIll fix it” Emily grabbed a cup, tipped the contents onto her palm, and froze, unsure what to do.
“Give it here! Fix it, she says. How would we even tell them apart now?” Margaret snatched the pills and dumped them.
“I just… got distracted.” Emilys hands trembled as she stared at the cups.
“If I hadnt walked inLord knows what mightve happened. Fancy a prison sentence?” Margaret snapped.
“I dont know how it happened,” Emily whispered, sinking into a chair, pressing her hands to her face. Silent sobs shook her shoulders.
“Please tell me you hadnt started the injections?”
Emily shook her head, still weeping.
“Youve never been this careless. Youre not some novice.”
“My husband… left me yesterday,” she choked out.
“Ah. Right.” Margaret sighed, tossing the ruined doses. “Ill sort this. Youyoure in no state to work. One mistake, and were both sacked.”
Emily finally lowered her hands and stood.
“Margaret, I”
“Sit. Better yet, go home. Write up leave starting tomorrow. Ill handle Matron.”
“I was saving my leave for when my daughter has the babyIll be more careful,” Emily promised, smudging mascara down her cheeks.
“A weeks enough to pull yourself together. Save the rest for the baby. And gobefore I change my mind.”
Emily blinked, dazed.
“Christ, the thought of what couldve happened,” Margaret muttered. “Though, our lot wouldve kicked up a fuss if theyd seen extra pills.”
Margaret was stout, her buttons straining against her ample chest. Emily seemed even smaller beside her.
“Wash your face. All husbands stray eventually, even the decent ones.” Margaret sighed, counting pills. “WaitIll call you a cab. In your state, youll walk into traffic.”
Emily didnt argue. She wrote her leave request, changed, grabbed her handbag, and left. A black cab waited at the gates. She slid in, gave her address, but dreaded going home.
*Hes gone, probably happy with some younger woman, and I nearly killed patients. Pull yourself together…* Her phone rang. Her daughter.
“Mum, hi!” Lilys voice was bright.
The horror faded. She hadnt given out the pills. No harm done.
“Lily, love, how are you?”
“Great! You at work?”
“In a cab. Theyve sent me on leave for a week.”
“Why? Are you ill?”
“No, just… things. Can I visit you?”
“Of course! When?”
“Tomorrow. If I can get a train ticket…”
She chatted, not noticing the cab had stopped.
“Here we are. Got another fare,” the driver said.
“Right. How much?” She fumbled for her phone.
He smiled. “Paid. Card charge when it was booked.”
“Oh. I didnt book” *Margaret mustve paid.*
“Mum, who are you talking to?” Lily asked.
“The driver. Ill call back once Ive got my ticket.” She went to tuck her phone awaybut her handbag was gone.
Her stomach dropped. The cab had driven off with it. Weak-legged, she staggered to a bench, brushed off autumn leaves, and sat. *Margarets right. I need rest. At this rate, Ill lose my head.*
What was in the bag? Keysin her coat. Phonein hand. But her purse! Hardly any cash, but her cards… *Why am I sitting here? Block it now!*
She peered down the street. *Maybe the cabbie will return? Notice the bag?* She scoffed at herself. *Shouldve told Lily to call later.*
She blocked the card, relieved. Now to calm down. Inside, the empty flat echoed. The chaos with the pills, the lost bagit had all briefly numbed the loneliness. Now it rushed back. She slumped onto the ottoman, fury at her husband flaring. *Because of him, Im a mess. And he doesnt care.*
Maybe she shouldnt go. More trouble awaited. But Lily expected her, and staying here was unbearable. Sighing, she fetched her secret stashhers alone, not the shared one with her husband. Enough for the trip.
She bought her ticket, packed lightly, and told her neighbour shed be away. On the train, she relaxed. The card was safe. Shed buy a new bag. And her husbands departure? Not the end of the world. Worse things happened. She had a grandchild coming… She dozed off thinking of Lily.
London greeted her with drizzle. Later, she told Lily about her father.
“Mum, dont you dare take him back,” Lily said.
Emily imagined him returning to an empty house. *Let him sweat.*
But when she got back, she knew he hadnt come.
Her neighbour, over tea, mentioned a visitora tall, serious man asking for her.
“Strangehe didnt know your name. Maybe a conman?”
Emily shrugged. “If he were a thief, hed have robbed the place by now.”
Next day, Margaret watched her closely at work but eventually relaxed. That evening, her doorbell rang. A handsome man stood there, holding her handbag.
“May I come in? Bit awkward on the doorstep.”
She let him in.
“Found this in a cab. You were the last faredriver said you seemed upset.”
“How did you find me?”
“He gave your address. Your neighbour said youd gone away. Check iteverythings there.”
Her purse was untouched. Even the cash.
“I blocked my card,” she blurted.
“Smart. People cant be trusted.”
She offered him a twenty.
“Not why Im here.” He smiled. “Id better go.”
“Thank you,” she called after him.
That weekend, he returned with flowers.
“I didnt forget these in the cab,” she said, puzzled.
“Your neighbour told me everything. These are for you. Im Daniel.”
“Emily.”
“Fancy a dance class? Ever been?”
“No. I cant dance.”
“I love itjust need a partner. Ill teach you.”
She hesitated, then imagined her husbands face if he knew she wasnt weeping but dancing.
She went. Daniel was graceful; she stepped on his toes. After, they had tea. She liked how he led her, how she trusted his movements.
Soon, it became routine. One night, she returned exhilaratedand tripped over a suitcase in the hall. *Hes back.*
Her husband emerged.
“Em, Im sorry. I missed you. She cant cookIve got heartburn from takeaways. Lets start over. Weve got Lily, the baby…”
“Too late,” she said, not looking at him.
“Youre back late. Had the early shift, didnt you?”
“Im a free woman now.”
“Youre still my wife!”
“For now. Lily said not to forgive you. Shes right.”
“Youve replaced me quickly.”
“*You* left *me*.”
He begged, shoutedshe stood firm.
“Fine. But dont think youre keeping the flat”
“Lilys on the deeds. And soon, her son will be too.”
“Bitch!” He grabbed his case and left.
She laughed until tears came.
Next rehearsal, Daniel was pacing outside.
“Emily, I thought you werent coming…”
They danced. She was radiant, light as air, lost in his admiring gaze.
“Look at Emily! Pure grace!” the instructor cheered.
She smiled at Daniel, seeing nothing else.
