22October2025
Dear Diary,
Im still trying to make sense of the chaos that has surrounded Emilys life these past months. It all began when she burst out of her sisters flat in Manchester, clutching a laptop as if it were a lifeline.
Are you pregnant? Rebecca asked, eyes wide as she emerged from the bathroom, a single white rose clutched in her hand.
Why are you here? Emily replied, bewildered.
Rebecca snapped the laptop shut and snapped at her, Did anyone ever tell you you cant take other peoples things without asking? The tension was palpable, and Emily promptly retreated to another room, realizing that midnight would be the perfect time to slip away for good. Rebecca was hunting for a recipea strange obsession that seemed to have nothing to do with Emily at all.
At twentythree, Emily met James on the high street. He approached her alone, extended a white rose on a long stem, and asked if they could get to know each other. He was unremarkable in appearance, yet he possessed a charisma that made him instantly likable, and his care and attentiveness were evident from the start.
A month later Emily confessed that life without James felt unimaginable. He felt the same, and another month after that she moved from her cramped rented room into the twobed flat James was sharing. Six months later he got down on one knee and proposed.
Shesshes Emily stammered when trying to describe James to Rebecca, I love him, and he loves me.
Congratulations, Rebecca replied curtly. The tone was flat, but Emily brushed it off. Their relationship had always been a little strained, and after Mums death Emily found herself with no close family besides Rebecca.
Thanks, Emily exhaled. Only problem is James is off on a threemonth work placement to earn extra money for our honeymoon.
Rebeccas voice stayed as emotionless as ever. When you set a date, Ill be there.
Right, Emily heard herself say.
Emily had always been the delicate, sensitive one, while Rebecca was the serious, hardnosed, independent sister. Emily even feared introducing James to Rebecca, worried she might not approve.
James called from the road: Love, its only about 800miles to my temporary base. Ill be back on weekends, or you can come to me. Their meetings were fewonce a month at mostbecause his workload was relentless. The quicker they sorted things, the sooner hed return. Emily was willing to wait forever; after all, her modest assistantaccountant salary could hardly help their future.
During Jamess second month away, strange messages started arrivingfirst texts, then voice notesfrom a robotic-sounding number. The voice warned Emily not to do anything that might upset him and hinted that the upcoming wedding could bring trouble. The messages vanished after a few hours, and the number could not be called back. Emily kept silent, though the anxiety gnawed at her.
One evening a doll eerily resembling a voodoo figure appeared on her doorstep. It had long chestnut hair, a face cut from a photograph, a needle piercing its chest, and a note bearing threats identical to those in the messages. The sight made Emily physically ill; she skipped work, citing a fictitious fever, and didnt complain to anyone.
Only James could have sympathised, but he was busy earning money, so she kept the incident to herself, dismissing it as a foolish prank. With no friends and no enemies, she suspected someone linked to James was trying to unsettle her.
Once James is back well sort it all out, she thought, trying to banish the dark thoughts. Two days later a motorcyclist nearly ran her down outside the courtyard. He swerved at the last second, missing her by inches, but the shock sent Emily stumbling into the curb, headfirst onto the pavement. A passerby, despite her protests, called an ambulance.
The hospital diagnosed a mild concussion, a couple of bruises, andsurprisinglya pregnancy. Emily refused to mention the motorcyclist, claiming shed simply fallen, and realised she could no longer return to Jamess flat. Someone was clearly out to sabotage her, and now she also had a child to protect.
She phoned Rebecca: Can I stay with you for a few days?
Whats happened? Rebecca asked, irritation in her tone. Did your lover throw you out?
James is on assignment and
Right, come over and tell me everything.
Emily poured out the whole storymessages, the doll, the nearaccident. I dont want to distract James, she sighed, and I want to tell him about the baby in person. He loves things to be presented nicely.
Rebecca, though initially hesitant, softened when she saw the strain on Emilys face. Its not a hostel, but a couple of weeks at most, she relented. James had mentioned hed be granted a twoday leave soon, so they hoped to resolve everything then.
Since Mums death, the siblings had sold the family house and split the proceeds. Rebecca, with a steady job and decent salary, took out a mortgage. Emily could only afford a small studio that was still under construction. The building, promised for completion six months ago, was still unfinished, leaving Emily with nowhere else to go. She tried to stay out of Rebeccas sight, buying groceries, cooking, keeping the flat tidy, yet she could feel her sisters lingering irritation.
Ten days later her phone froze and died while she searched urgently for an online medication. In a panic she shouted from the bathroom, Rebecca, can I have your laptop? She opened it, and the browser, by sheer coincidence, suggested pregnancy termination. The search history was filled with queries about herbal brews and other dubious remedies.
The laptops screen flashed the familiar line: Are you pregnant? Emily stared at Rebecca, who had just stepped out of the shower. And why are you here?
Did anyone ever tell you you cant take other peoples things without permission? Rebecca snapped, slamming the laptop shut. Emily realised she needed to leave the flat at once. That night she decided the best course was to slip away early the next morning. James would be back in a few days; she could manage until then.
She left quietly, thinking of all she had to tell Jamesabout staying with Rebecca, about the threats, about the dollyet she kept it to herself, not wanting to burden him. Luckily James finally managed to break free from his assignment. He arrived, sternfaced, demanding to know who the babys father was.
Of course its you! What are you thinking? Emilys heart raced. How do you even know? he asked, eyes narrowed. He stared at her for a long minute, then lunged forward, gripping her tightly. Im sorry! I almost lost my mind after that anonymous message. Im a fool! he whispered, tears in his voice.
Emily wept with relief. When she calmed down, she recounted the months bizarre events. Jamess expression shifted repeatedlyastonishment, pallor, embarrassment. Im sorry, he said again after she finished. I should have told you everything from the start. He confessed that three months before they met, he had been involved with Rebecca, who had hinted at marriage. He had driven Rebecca to the meeting that brought them together, only to realise he loved Emily, not his sister.
Silence hung heavy. The next day I told Rebecca we were over and set my sights on you, James admitted. Everything after that is yours to know.
Emily, trembling, called Rebecca. Is this true? Was it you? she asked, voice steady.
Rebecca replied after a pause, Did you think you could steal my fiancé without consequence? I was once pregnant with his child and had an abortion. I hoped hed leave you, but nowedding, baby, everything. What makes you any better than me?
Emilys eyes went dry. She hung up, feeling the weight of betrayal and relief alike. Within six weeks they married quietly, without fanfare, and a daughter was born on schedule. Rebecca and Emily no longer speak at all.
Looking back, I realise how easily people can be manipulated by fear and secrecy, and how vital it is to speak the truth before it festers.
Lesson: trust your own instincts, let honesty guide you, and never let anothers scheming dictate the course of your life.
