«He married you, but he loves me,» said the friend, avoiding eye contact.
«Emma, would you like some coffee?» asked Lucy, flicking on the kettle and reaching for two mugs from the cupboard.
«Please. Make it strongmy heads splitting,» Emma rubbed her temples and sank into the kitchen chair, exhaustion weighing her down.
Lucy measured the coffee into the mugs in silence before turning back to her friend. Theyd known each other for over a decade, since university, and Lucy could always read Emmas mood in an instant. Today, she looked draineddark circles under her eyes, her hair hastily tied back.
«Late night again?» Lucy asked carefully.
Emma nodded, tracing the pattern on the plastic tablecloth.
«Reports kept me till half one. The numbers wouldnt add up, and theyre due tomorrow. I get home, and James is already asleep. I leave before hes even up. Its been like this for a week.»
Lucy set a steaming mug in front of her and sat down. Something flickered in her eyes, but Emma missed it.
«How are things between you two? Since the wedding?» Lucy stirred sugar into her coffee.
«Fine, I suppose,» Emma shrugged. «Still adjusting. You know the first years the hardest. Mum says its all about磨合settling in.»
«Settling in,» Lucy repeated, bitterness seeping into her voice.
Emma finally looked up, studying her friends face.
«Lucy, whats wrong? Youre not yourself today.»
«Im fine,» Lucy waved it off. «Just tired. Works mad, and weve started redecorating. Its all a bit much.»
But Emmas instincts prickled. They knew each other too well for lies. Lucy had the same look shed had years ago when she confessed her crush on their philosophy lecturerthat same restless glint in her eyes.
«Lucy, talk to me. Were friends, arent we?»
Lucy stood, walked to the window, and stared into the garden before turning abruptly.
«Emma, I need to tell you something. I dont know how youll take it.»
«What is it?» Emmas pulse quickened.
«Its about James.»
«James?» Emma set her mug down slowly. «What about him?»
Lucy stepped closer but kept her gaze lowered.
«Weve been seeing each other. For six months.»
Emma froze. The words didnt register at first.
«Seeing each other how?»
«After work. On weekends when you visit your parents. Emma, Im sorryI never meant It just happened.»
«It just happened?» Emmas voice was quiet but sharp. «An affair just happened?»
«Dont call it that. We just understand each other. We talk, go for walks, see plays»
«Plays,» Emma echoed. «And the sleeping together? Was that just for understanding too?»
Lucy flushed but said nothing. The silence was answer enough.
Emma stood, legs trembling, but pride kept her upright.
«How long?» she asked, surprised at how steady she sounded.
«Six months. It started before your wedding, but we tried to stop. Thought wed forget each other. After the wedding he called me.»
«After the wedding, he called you,» Emma repeated slowly. «So on our honeymoon, he was thinking of you?»
Lucys head dipped lower.
«Emma, I know this hurts. But he married youand loves me. I love him too. We never wanted to hurt you, but»
«He married you, but he loves me,» Emma echoed, the words a verdict.
The kitchen fell silent, save for the ticking clock and hum of the fridge. Emma stood motionless; Lucy still wouldnt meet her eyes.
«Why tell me now?» Emma finally asked. «You couldve kept lying.»
«I couldnt. James wanted to tell you, but I thought it should come from me. Were friends»
«Friends,» Emma scoffed. «Ten years of friendship, and this is where it ends.»
«Emma, love isnt a choice. It just happens. We didnt plan»
«Didnt plan?» Emmas voice cracked. «You stood at my wedding, toasted my happiness, asked how we were doing, told me to be patient with himwas that all unplanned too?»
«I wanted it to work for you, I really did. But I cant help how I feel. I love him.»
«And he loves you?»
Lucy lifted her head, and the raw truth in her eyes shattered Emma completely.
«Yes,» Lucy whispered. «He says he realised too late. After it was impossible to undo.»
«Impossible? A wedding isnt a death sentence. He couldve walked away.»
«He didnt want to upset you. Thought hed grow to love you. Everyone said you were perfect together.»
«Perfect,» Emma sank back into the chair, her legs giving way. «So he married me out of pity?»
«Not pity. Respect. He cares about you»
«But doesnt love me.»
«No. Im sorry.»
Emma covered her face. Her thoughts swirledsix months of marriage, all while her husband and best friend lied to her. His excuses about work, his distanceit all made horrible sense now.
«Where did you meet?» she asked, voice muffled.
«My flat. Sometimes a café across town.»
«Your flat,» Emma repeated. «This kitchen, where were sitting now?»
Lucys silence was louder than words.
Emma grabbed her bag from the chair.
«Where are you going?» Lucy fretted.
«Home. To talk to my husband.»
«Emma, waitlets talk this through. There has to be a way»
«A way?» Emma turned at the door. «Should we all move in together? Or should I graciously hand him over and play the understanding friend?»
«I dont know. I just dont want to lose you. You matter to me.»
«Mattered. Before you slept with my husband.»
«Emma!»
But Emma was already gone.
On the bus home, she stared blankly out the window, deaf to the conductors announcements, blind to the passing streets. One phrase looped in her mind: *He married you, but he loves me.*
The flat was silent. James wouldnt be back for hours. Emma wandered to the bedroom, sat on the bed theyd shared for six months, and searched for signs shed missed. His distraction, their stilted conversations, the lack of real intimacyshed blamed stress, adjusting to married life.
Now other details surfacedLucys probing questions about their weekends, Jamess frequent late calls, how Lucy had stopped inviting her over.
The key in the lock startled her. James was home early.
«Emma? You here?» he called from the hall.
«Here,» she answered, amazed at how calm she sounded.
He kissed her cheek, as usualan ordinary man of thirty, unremarkable to most, but once her whole world.
«How was work?» he asked, loosening his tie.
«Fine. Yours?»
«Same old. Exhausting.»
He headed to the shower, and Emma listened to the water runa normal evening in a normal marriage. If you ignored the truth.
Over dinner, James chatted about work, complained about his boss, made weekend plans. Emma listened, realising it was all an act. Who was he performing for?
«James,» she interrupted.
«Yeah?»
«Lucy told me something today.»
He froze, spoon halfway to his mouth, then set it down slowly.
«What exactly?» His voice was wary.
«That youre seeing each other.»
He closed his eyes, exhaled sharply.
«She told you herself?»
«An hour ago. In her kitchenwhere youve probably had dinner together.»
«Emma…»
«Dont explain. Just tell me: is it true?»
«Its true,» he met her gaze. «I was going to tell you. Ive been trying to find the words.»
«For days. While youve been lying for months.»
«Since before the wedding. We tried to stop, but…»
«But your love was too grand to resist,» Emma finished flatly.
James stood, walked to the window.
«I never wanted this. But I love her.»
«And me?»
A long pause. Then:
«I dont. I thought I would, in time. Youre kind, and I respect you, but… You cant force love.»
«Why marry me?»
«You wanted it. Everyone said it was time. I thoughtwhy not? Youre steady, reliable.»
«Like a savings account,» Emma said drily.
«Dont say that. I never meant to hurt you.»
«And yet you did. Six months of lies. Did you think that wouldnt hurt?»
He turned, and she saw shame in his eyes.
«It does hurt. I hate lying every day, pretending to be happy.»
«Hate lying. Right. So what now?»
«I dont know. Divorce, I suppose.»
«I suppose,» Emma agreed. «And marry Lucy?»
«If shell have me.»
«She will. She loves you. Simple.»
Emma cleared the table, hands trembling but steady.
«Emma,» James called as he lingered by the door.
«What?»
«If you need help with the divorce, paperwork»
«Ill manage.»
«Okay. Im sorry.»
«Already forgiven,» she said, closing the door behind him.
Then she sat on the sofa and criedproperly, for the first time in days. When the tears stopped, she felt something unexpected: freedom. For the first time in six months, she was free.
The divorce was quick, amicable. James didnt contest the flat her parents had helped her buy; she didnt ask for alimony. They parted almost politely.
A month later, she heard James and Lucy were living together. The news didnt stingjust puzzled her. How little she felt for people whod once meant everything.
Then, one Sunday, walking in the park, she met a man with a dog. He helped her pick up dropped groceries, they talked, discovered shared interests. Andmost importantlyhe looked at her in a way James never had.
«Fancy a coffee?» he asked.
«Maybe,» Emma said, smiling as she realised: life wasnt ending. It was just beginning.
**Lesson:** Love built on lies crumbles, but honestyeven when painfulsets you free. And sometimes, the end of one story is the first page of something far better.
