Emily darts out of her sisters flat.
Are you pregnant? Sarahwho has just emerged from the bathroomasks, eyes wide. Why are you here?
Did anyone ever tell you you cant just take other peoples things without asking? Sarah snaps, slamming her laptop shut and fixing Emily with a hard stare.
Emily realises its better to retreat to another room. That night she decides the only sensible move is to get out of the flat entirely, because Sarah is rummaging for a recipe she plans to use on Emily.
At twentythree, Emily meets the love of her life on the street. A stranger walks up, hands her a white rose on a long stem, and asks to introduce himself.
He looks perfectly ordinary, yet his charisma is undeniable; hes also caring and attentive.
A month later Emily cant imagine life without James. He feels the same, and another month on she moves in with him into a twobedroom flat, leaving her rented room behind.
Six months later he proposes.
Shesshes Emily struggles for words, trying to describe her fiancé to her older sister. In short, I adore him and he loves me, too.
Congratulations, Sarah replies dryly.
Emily ignores the tone. Their relationship has always been a bit strained, but after their mothers death Emily has no close family left except Sarah.
Thanks! she exhales. Only problem is James is away for three months, earning extra money for the honeymoon.
Right, Sarah says, her voice still flat.
Ill let you know when the wedding is set. Youre invited, of course.
Sure.
Its always been like this: Emily is gentle, impressionable, fragile; Sarah is serious, tough, independent. Emily even worries about introducing Sarah to James, fearing she wont like him.
James texts: Love, its only about 500 miles away. Ill come over on weekends or you can visit me.
They manage to meet only once a month because his workload is huge. The faster they set everything up, the sooner hell return. Emily is ready to wait foreverJames is doing everything he can for both of them, and her modest assistantaccountant salary cant do much for their future.
Strange messagesfirst texts, then voice notesstart arriving in the second month of Jamess assignment. A robotic voice warns Emily not to do anything that might upset him, implying the wedding could bring trouble.
The voice sends shivers down Emilys spine. The number is untraceable, and the messages disappear after a few hours. She tells no one, though shes terrified.
Later she finds a voodoolike doll on her doorstep: long chestnut hair, her own face cut from a photograph, a large needle pierces its chest, and a slip of paper threatens her, mirroring the earlier messages.
Emily feels physically ill; her sensitive nature reacts instantly. She skips work that day, citing a fever that doesnt exist, but she doesnt complain to anyone. Only James could comfort her, yet she hesitates to disturb him while hes busy earning money. Silly jokes, she tells herself, though she cant tell whose.
She assumes someone on Jamess side is trying to frighten her. When James comes back well sort everything out, she thinks, trying to push the thoughts away.
Two days later, as she leaves the courtyard, a motorcyclist nearly runs her down. He swerves at the last second, missing her, but the sudden scare makes Emily jump, catch the curb with her heel, and tumble onto the pavement, hitting her head.
A passerby, despite her protests, calls an ambulance. In the hospital doctors diagnose a mild concussion, a few bruises, andsurprisinglya pregnancy.
Emily refuses admission, tells no one about the biker, and later realises she cant return to Jamess flat. Someone is clearly intent on harming her, and she cant risk it now that shes carrying his child.
Can I stay with you for a few days? she asks Sarah, desperate.
What happened? Sarah replies, annoyed. Did your boyfriend throw you out?
James is on assignment and
Oh right. Come over, well talk.
Emily spills everything the messages, the doll, the nearmiss.
I dont want to distract James, she sighs. I need to tell him about the baby myself, nicely, because he loves things done beautifully.
Sarah scoffs, I dont run a hostel, but Ill let you stay a couple of weeks, no more.
That helps; James mentions hes got a twoday leave coming up, so theyll sort things then.
Emily feels guilty imposing on Sarah. After their mother died they sold the family house, split the proceeds, and Sarah, with a steady job and good salary, took out a mortgage. Emily managed only a small studio flat still under construction. The building was supposed to be finished six months ago, but it isnt, leaving Emily with nowhere else to go. She tries to stay out of Sarahs sight, buying groceries, cooking, keeping the flat tidy, yet she senses Sarahs irritation.
Ten days later her phone freezes and dies while shes searching for a medication online.
Sarah, can I use your laptop? she shouts from the bathroom, opening the machine before Sarah answers.
Coincidentally, typing the first letters of her query brings up termination of pregnancy results, complete with dubious remedies.
The robotic voice returns: Are you pregnant? it asks, mirroring Sarahs earlier shock.
Did anyone ever tell you not to take other peoples stuff without permission? Sarah repeats, slamming the laptop again.
Emily retreats to another room, realizing she must leave the flat at dawn. She tells herself James will be back in a few days and shell survive.
She has so much to tell him, including the stay with Sarah that she kept secret. Fortunately James finally breaks free from his assignment, but he arrives angry, demanding to know who the babys father is.
Its you, of course! What did you think? How do you even know? Emily stammers, genuinely frightened.
James fixes her with a silent stare for a minute, then lunges, gripping her tightly.
Sorry! I almost lost it when I got that unknownnumber message. Im sorry! I was a fool!
Emily bursts into tears, then, once calm, recounts the past months odd events. Jamess expression flips between astonishment, pallor, and redness as she speaks.
Im sorry, he repeats after she finishes. I should have told you everything from the start.
Emilys face shifts from pale to shocked to wiping tears. James confesses that three months before meeting her he was dating Sarah, who hinted at marriage. Something held him back, and it turned out to be a good thing.
I drove Sarah to meet you, even asked her to set us upshes my sister, after allbut she refused. I didnt leave then; I saw you and fell in love. Youre my woman, not my sister.
A heavy silence follows.
The next day I told Sarah we were over and set a trap to meet you, James admits. Everything after that you already know.
Emily, shaking, dials Sarah.
Is this true? Is it you? she asks, voice steady.
You thought you could steal my fiancé? Sarah retorts after a pause. I was pregnant with him once, had an abortion. Still dont know what happened
Fine, what does it matter now? Emily replies.
I didnt know Sarah says.
Of course you did! I hoped hed ditch you, but hes marrying me, wedding and baby and all. What makes you any better?
Emily presses reset on the conversation and stares at the wall, eyes dry.
They marry a month and a half later without any fanfare; their daughter arrives on schedule. Emily cuts off all contact with Sarah.
