«Go to hell, Daniel!» Emily’s voice cracked as her phone nearly slipped from her grip. «Three months of fancy dinners, roses every week, then you vanish like I meant nothing!»
«I never promised you forever,» Daniel replied with infuriating calm. «We had fun, that’s all.»
«Fun?» Emily exhaled sharply, fighting the tremor in her voice. «Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. You know what? Im coming tomorrow to collect my things. Then youll never have to see me again.»
«Not tomorrow. Ive got… plans.»
«What plans? Another girl to disappoint?»
«Emily, dont start. Im busy till evening. Come after eight.»
«No chance. Ill be there at noon. Dont care about your *plans*. Ten minutes, and you can get back to your perfect life without me.»
She hung up before he could reply, hurling her phone onto the sofa. The tears shed held back all week finally spilled over. Why did she always fall for men who treated her as temporary entertainment?
A gentle knock. «Emily, love… you alright?» Her mum peeked in, holding a steaming cuppa.
«Fine,» Emily wiped her cheeks hastily. «Just tired.»
Her mum set the tea down and pulled her close. «Heard every word. Daniel again?»
Emily nodded, throat too tight to speak.
«Darling, how long will you let this boy break your heart? Four months over someone who doesnt appreciate you»
«Im *not* heartbroken,» Emily snapped. «I just want my things back and to move on.»
«Whats left there? A few books? That jumper you liked?»
«My Chanel perfume, two blouses, and Grans photo album. I cant just leave them.»
Her mum sighed, stroking her hair. «Let me fetch them. Or Charlotte?»
At the mention of her older sister, Emily scowled. «Keep Charlotte out of it! Were not speaking.»
«Lord, what now?»
«Nothing. She just *knows* everything. Told me Daniel was a waste of time. Bet shes thrilled to be right.»
«She means well,» her mum murmured.
Emily shook her head. Charlotte was flawlessstraight-A student, first-class degree, high-flying career, picture-perfect marriage. Easy to give advice from her pedestal. Meanwhile, Emily at thirty-two had a rented flat, a job she hated, and yet another shattered heart.
«Ill get my things myself,» she said firmly. «End of story.»
—
The next morning, Emily woke with a throbbing headache. Shed barely slept, rehearsing the confrontation in her mind. Determined to look impeccablelet him regret losing hershe applied makeup carefully, slipped into a new dress and heels.
As the cab wound through familiar streets, she mentally drafted her script. Cold. Composed. No tears, no accusations. Grab her belongings and leave with dignity.
Daniels building was eerily quiet. The lift carried her to the seventh floor. Her pulse hammered as she pressed the buzzer.
Silence. Maybe hed actually left for his «*plans*»? She rang again, longer this time. Footsteps approached. She straightened, ready.
The door swung openand Emily froze.
There stood Charlotte. Her *sister*. In a dressing gown, hair damp, face slack with shock.
«Emily? Whatwhat are you doing here?»
Emilys voice vanished. Fragments of thoughts collidednone forming sense.
«What am *I* doing here?» she finally choked out. «What are *you* doing in my exs flat? In a *robe*?»
Charlotte rubbed her forehead. «Listen, its not what»
«Whos there, Char?» Daniel appeared, buttoning his shirt. Spotting Emily, he halted, face twisting between surprise and irritation. «Oh. *You*. I said after eight.»
Emilys gaze flickered between them. Something inside her snapped.
«Youre… together? My *sister* and my»
Charlotte stepped forward. «Emily, lets talk somewhere else»
«Talk? About what? How you laughed behind my back?» Bile rose in her throat. «How long? Were you doing this while we were still together?»
Daniel crossed his arms. «Nothing happened when we were dating. Charlotte and I met *after*»
«By *chance*?» Emily barked a bitter laugh. «Chance led you to his bed?»
«Stop,» Charlotte said sharply. «Youve got this all wrong.»
«How *should* I take it?» Emilys voice rose. «Explain how my *sister* ends up in my exs flat, fresh from his shower»
She couldnt finish. Whirling, she stabbed the lift button, ignoring Charlottes pleas. The doors closed on her sisters distraught face and Daniels hand on her shoulder.
—
Outside, sunlight mocked her misery. She stumbled blindly, ignoring strangers stares. Her phone buzzed relentlesslyCharlotte, no doubt. She silenced it.
A café offered refuge. She ordered coffee she wouldnt drink, just to sit before her legs gave out.
«Everything alright, love?» The waitress eyed her pallor.
«Fine. Just… bad sleep,» Emily lied.
Alone, she stared at the trembling ripples in her cup. *Charlotte*. The paragon of virtue, who lectured her on choosing men wisely. Now *she* was with Daniel?
Her phone rang again*Mum*. She debated ignoring it, but answered.
«Emily? Charlottes called me in tears»
«Whatd she say?» Emily cut in.
«That you misunderstood»
«*Misunderstood*?» Emily nearly shouted. «I *saw* her in his flat, Mum!»
A beat of silence. «…Charlotte said she was *helping* you.»
«Helping?» Emily laughed so hard nearby diners turned. «*How*?»
«I dont know details. She begged you to listen»
«Im done listening.» She hung up, switched off her phone.
—
She fled to her mate Sophiesthe one whod warned, «Daniels slippery.»
Sophie enveloped her in a hug. «Christ, you look awful. What happened?»
Between sobs, Emily spilled everything. Sophie listened, stirring her tea thoughtfully.
«Look… this isnt like Charlotte. Maybe hear her out?»
«Youre *siding* with her?»
«Im siding with *truth*. If its what you think, cut her off. But *know* first.»
Emily refused. She crashed at Sophies, dreading family. By morning, she had a dozen missed callsand one text from *Daniel*:
*»Youve got it wrong. Charlotte was helping you. Let her explain.»*
She deleted it. What lie had they concocted?
—
That evening, a knock. Sophie answered.
«Is Emily here? I *need* to talk to her.» *Charlotte*.
Sophie glanced at Emily, who shook her head.
«Sorry. Shes not up to talking.»
«Please,» Charlottes voice wavered. «Its important. She deserves the truth.»
«The *truth*?» Emily stormed over. «I *saw* it!»
Charlotte stood therepale, eyes red-raw. A far cry from her poised self.
«May I come in?»
Emily wanted to refuse. But Sophie stepped aside.
In the living room, Charlotte clutched her bag strap. «Ill explain. Just… hear me out.»
Emily crossed her arms. «Go on.»
«Im *not* with Daniel. Never was.»
«Then why were you there? In a *robe*?»
Charlotte took a shaky breath. «It was *yours*. The silk one from your birthday. You left it at his place.»
Emily recalledblue with embroidered birds. A gift from coworkers.
«That doesnt explain the shower.»
Charlotte looked down. «Because he spilled coffee on me.»
*What?*
«I went last nightafter you told Mum you were fetching your things. I… wanted to confront him. Understand why he hurt you.»
«Why?» Emily snapped.
«Because youre my *sister*,» Charlotte said simply. «I saw your pain.»
She continued: Daniel had reluctantly let her in. Over kitchen tea, hed admitted he wasnt ready for commitment. When shed offered to collect Emilys things, hed agreedbut then knocked over his coffee, drenching her blouse.
«He gave me your robe while mine dried. Id just showered when you arrived.»
Emily stared. The story was absurd… yet *plausible*. Charlotte *never* lied to her.
She pulled a bag from her tote. «Your things. Perfume, blouses, Grans album. And the robe.»
Emilys anger wavered. Charlottes eyes held raw sincerity.
«Why didnt you tell me you were going?»
«Youd have refused. Youre too proud to admit youre hurting.»
Emilys throat tightened. Shed assumed the worst of her sister, whod only tried to help.
«I… dont know what to say.»
«Say you believe me,» Charlotte whispered. «Because its true. Id *never* betray you.»
The fight drained from Emily. Shame replaced it.
«Why didnt you explain straightaway?»
«I *tried*. You ran.»
True. Emily recalled Charlotte calling after her: *»Let me explain!»* Shed chosen the easiest, cruelest assumption.
«Im sorry,» she whispered. «I shouldve listened.»
Charlotte burst into tears. Emily hugged her. They sat silently until Sophie discreetly left.
Later, over tea, Charlotte admitted her own flawslike nearly divorcing her «perfect» husband last year.
«You never told me!»
«I was ashamed. After all my advice, *I* almost ruined my marriage.»
They talked till dawn. By morning, they returned home to their relieved mum, who hugged them, exasperated.
«Honestly, I thought I was done refereeing my girls!»
«Never too old to need you, Mum,» Emily smiled.
Later, unpacking her thingsperfume, blouses, album, robeCharlotte said softly, «Maybe this was for the best. Now you *know* Daniels not worth your tears.»
Emily nodded. «And that Ive got a sister whod march into battle for me. Even when Im being a right idiot.»
«*Especially* then,» Charlotte grinned.
Emily laughed. Lifes lessons were ironic. Shed gone to reclaim belongingsand rediscovered something far more precious. Maybe that was the point of pain: to teach you what truly mattered.
