I went to pick up my things from my ex and found my sister there in a dressing gown.
«What do you even know about love?» Emilys voice trembled as she gripped her phone, her hands damp with anger. «Three months of fancy dinners, flowers, and then you vanish like it meant nothing!»
«Look, I never promised you forever,» Daniel replied, his tone infuriatingly calm. «We had fun, thats all.»
«Fun?» Emily exhaled sharply, fighting to steady her voice. «Brilliant. Just brilliant. You know what? Ill come by tomorrow to get my things. And youll never see me again.»
«Tomorrow wont work. Ive got plans.»
«Plans? Another girl to fool?»
«Emily, dont start. Im busy till evening. Come after eight.»
«No. Ill be there at noon. And I dont care about your plans. Itll take ten minutes, and you can go back to your perfect life without me.»
She ended the call, tossing her phone onto the sofa before burying her face in her hands. The tears shed held back all week finally spilled over. Why did it always end like this? Why did she keep choosing men who saw her as temporary?
A gentle knock at the door.
«Emily, love, are you alright?» Her mum peeked in, holding a cup of tea.
«Im fine,» Emily wiped her cheeks quickly. «Just tired.»
Her mum set the tea down and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
«I heard. Daniel again?»
Emily nodded, unable to speak.
«Sweetheart, how long will you let this man break your heart? Four months of misery over someone who doesnt value you.»
«Im not miserable,» Emily snapped. «I just want my things back so I can move on.»
«Whats even left there? A few books? A jumper?»
«My favourite perfume, two blouses, and Grans photo album. I cant just leave them.»
Her mum sighed, stroking her hair.
«Should I go? Or maybe Charlotte?»
At the mention of her older sister, Emily stiffened.
«Dont drag Charlotte into this! Im not even speaking to her right now.»
«Goodness, what now?»
«Nothing. She just thinks she knows how I should live. Said Daniel was a waste of time. Bet shes thrilledshe was right!»
«She only wants whats best for you,» her mum said softly.
Emily shook her head. Charlotte had always been perfecttop grades, first-class degree, successful career, the perfect husband. Easy for her to give advice from her high horse. Meanwhile, Emily at thirty-two had a broken heart, a rented flat, and a job she hated.
«Ill get my things myself,» she said firmly. «And close this chapter.»
The next morning, Emily woke with a headache. Shed barely slept, replaying the upcoming confrontation with Daniel. She wanted to look flawlessmake him regret losing her. She applied her makeup carefully, slipped into a new dress, and stepped into high heels.
As the cab wound through familiar streets, she rehearsed the conversation in her head. Shed be cold, composed. No tears, no accusations. Grab her things and walk out with her head high.
Daniels building was silent. Emily took the lift to the seventh floor, her heart pounding as she approached his door. She took a deep breath and rang the bell.
Nothing. Maybe hed already left for his «plans.» She pressed the bell again, holding it longer. Footsteps approached, and she straightened, ready.
The door opened. Emily froze.
Standing there was Charlotteher older sister. In a dressing gown, hair damp from the shower, eyes wide with surprise.
«Emily?» Charlotte stepped back. «Whatwhat are you doing here?»
Emily couldnt speak. Fragments of thoughts collided, none forming a coherent explanation.
«What are you doing here?» she finally managed. «In a dressing gown. In my exs flat.»
Charlotte rubbed her eyes.
«Listen, this isnt what it»
«Who is it, Char?» Daniel appeared, buttoning his shirt. Seeing Emily, he stopped, his expression caught between shock and irritation.
«Oh. You. I said after eight.»
Emilys gaze flicked between them. Something inside her snapped.
«You twotogether? My sister and my ex?»
Charlotte stepped forward.
«Emily, lets talk. Not here. Come»
«Talk? About what? How youve been laughing behind my back?» Emilys throat tightened. «How long has this been going on? While we were still together?»
Daniel sighed.
«Nothing happened while we were together. Charlotte and I met after»
«By chance?» Emily laughed bitterly. «Ended up in bed by chance?»
«Stop,» Charlotte said firmly. «Youve got it all wrong.»
«How else am I supposed to take it? My own sister in a dressing gown, in the flat of a man I was with weeks ago»
Her voice broke. She turned and rushed to the lift, jabbing the button.
«Emily, wait!» Charlotte chased after her, clutching the gown. «Let me explain!»
«Dont touch me!» Emily recoiled. «I saw everything. Whats left to explain?»
The lift doors opened. She jumped in, pressing for the ground floor. The last thing she saw before the doors closed was Charlottes distraught faceand Daniels hand on her shoulder.
Outside, the sun mocked her pain. She wandered blindly, bumping into passersby. Her phone buzzed incessantlyCharlotte, no doubt. She ignored it.
She stumbled into a café, ordering coffee she wouldnt drink. Her hands shook so badly she had to press them between her knees.
«Everything alright, love?» The waitress eyed her pale face.
«Fine, thanks,» Emily forced a smile. «Just tired.»
Alone, she stared into the coffee, watching the ripples from her trembling hands. How could this happen? Charlottethe perfect one, the moral compasswith Daniel?
Her phone rang again. Mum this time. She hesitated, then answered.
«Emily? Whats happened? Charlotte called in tears»
«What did she say?» Emily interrupted.
«That you had a misunderstanding. That you got the wrong idea»
«Misunderstanding?» Emily nearly shouted. «I saw her in Daniels flat, in a dressing gown! What other idea is there?»
Silence.
«Mum?»
«Im here,» she said quietly. «Charlotte said she was helping you.»
«Helping? How?»
«I dont know the details. She wants you to listen. Says its not what it looks like.»
Emily shook her head. «I dont want to hear it. Dont call me about this again.»
She hung up, switched off her phone, paid for the untouched coffee, and left.
Home was the last place she wanted to be. Mum would be waiting, ready to mediate. Or worseCharlotte. Instead, she went to her friend Sophiesthe one whod always said, «I dont trust that Daniel. Somethings off.»
Sophie pulled her into a hug.
«Blimey, you look awful. What happened?»
Emily spilled everything, her voice breaking between sobs. Sophie listened, shaking her head.
«I just cant believe it,» Emily finished. «Charlotteshes always been so proper. And now this?»
Sophie stirred her tea thoughtfully.
«Maybe there is an explanation? Doesnt sound like Charlotte.»
«Youre taking her side? I saw it!»
«Im not on anyones side,» Sophie said. «Just hear her out. If its what you think, you can walk away then.»
Emily shook her head stubbornly. «I dont want to see her again.»
She stayed the night. The next morning, she turned her phone onwork needed calling. Dozens of missed calls from Charlotte, a few from Mum, and one text from Daniel:
*Emily, you misunderstood. Charlotte was helping you. Let her explain.*
She deleted it. What else could he say? What story had they cooked up?
She took the day off work. Sophie put on old films, trying to distract her. But Emilys mind kept replaying itCharlotte in the gown, Daniels shirt half-buttoned
That evening, the doorbell rang. Sophie answered.
«Hello. Is Emily here? I need to talk to her.»
Charlotte. Sophie glanced at Emily, who shook her head.
«Sorry, she doesnt want to talk,» Sophie said gently.
«Please,» Charlottes voice wavered. «Its important. She needs to know the truth.»
«The truth?» Emily stormed to the door. «I saw the truth!»
Charlotte stood there, pale, eyes red-rimmednothing like the composed sister Emily knew.
«Can I come in?»
Emily wanted to refuse, but Sophie stepped aside. Charlotte sat on the sofas edge, fidgeting with her bag strap.
«Ill explain,» she said. «Just hear me out.»
Emily crossed her arms. «Go on.»
«Im not with Daniel. Never have been.»
«Then why were you in his flat? In a dressing gown?»
Charlotte took a deep breath. «I went to get your things.»
«Really?» Emily scoffed. «Needed a shower for that?»
«Not his gown. Yours. Remember the silk one from your birthday? You left it there.»
Emily rememberedlight blue, embroidered with birds. A gift from colleagues.
«That doesnt explain why you were wet.»
Charlotte looked down. «Because Daniel spilled coffee on me.»
«What?»
«I went last night. After you told Mum you were going. I wanted to talk to himfind out what really happened between you.»
«Why?» Emily snapped.
«Because youre my sister. Ive watched you suffer. I wanted to understand why he hurt you.»
She paused, gathering herself.
«He didnt want to let me in, but I insisted. We talked in the kitchen. He said you werent right for each other, that he wasnt ready for commitment»
«And?»
«Then I said Id take your thingsthat it was too painful for you to see him. He agreed, but when we went to look for your stuff, he knocked over the coffee. It went all over me.»
Emily stared.
«So you stayed the night?»
«No! Daniel gave me your gown while my clothes dried. I showered, put it on, and then you arrived.»
«And why was he half-dressed?»
«Hed just woken up. Said he hadnt slept well.»
Emily leaned back, processing. It sounded absurdbut also like something Charlotte would do.
«And you expect me to believe this?»
«I know how it looks,» Charlotte said softly. «But its true. Id never betray you.»
She pulled a bag from her purse.
«Your things. Perfume, blouses, the photo album. And the gown. Everything you left.»
Emily studied her sisters facethe raw pain in her eyes. Doubt flickered. Charlotte had never lied to her before.
«Why didnt you tell me you were going?»
«Because youd have refused. Youre too proud to admit when youre hurt. I wanted to spare you.»
Emilys throat tightened. All this time, shed assumed the worstwhile Charlotte had only tried to help.
«I dont know what to say.»
«Say you believe me,» Charlotte pleaded. «Because its true. Id never hurt you.»
Silence. The anger inside Emily dissolved into shame.
«Why didnt you explain straight away?»
«I tried! But you ran off.»
Emily rememberedCharlotte calling after her: *Let me explain!* She hadnt listened, choosing the easiest, most painful assumption.
«Im sorry,» she whispered. «I shouldve let you speak.»
Charlotte exhaled, tears spilling. Emily moved to the sofa, hugging her. They sat like that for minutes, wordless. When they pulled apart, Emily wiped her eyes.
«What did you say to Daniel?»
«The truth,» Charlotte smiled weakly. «That he was an idiot to let you go. That hed regret it.»
Emily chuckled.
«And what did he say?»
«Nothing sensible. Think I scared himbig sister coming to defend her little sister.»
They laughed, the tension lifting. Sophie discreetly slipped out to the kitchen.
«You know,» Emily said after a pause, «I always thought you had it all figured out. Perfect life, perfect choices. And me? Always picking the wrong men, the wrong jobs.»
Charlotte shook her head.
«Thats not true. Ive made mistakes too. I just didnt always tell you.»
«Like what?»
«Simon and I almost divorced last year.»
«What?» Emily gaped. «But youre the perfect couple!»
«Nobodys perfect,» Charlotte smiled sadly. «We hit a rough patchhe was working all the time, I felt alone. We barely spoke.»
«Why didnt you tell me?»
«Didnt want to upset you. And I was ashamed. Giving you advice while my own marriage was crumbling.»
«What changed?»
«We started talking. Honestly. About how we felt, what we feared, what we wanted. Turns out thats the hardestand most importantpart.»
They talked late into the night. Charlotte stayed over. The next morning, they went home together, where their mum hugged them both, sighing.
«Lord, I thought I was done refereeing you two. Arent you grown women?»
«Never too grown to need you, Mum,» Emily smiled, hugging her tighter.
Later, over tea, Emily unpacked her thingsperfume, blouses, the photo album. And the gown, light blue with embroidered birds.
«You know,» Charlotte mused, «maybe its for the best. At least now you know Daniel wasnt worth your tears.»
Emily nodded.
«And that Ive got a sister wholl always have my back. Even if I act like a complete idiot.»
«Especially then,» Charlotte grinned.
Emily smiled. Funny how life taught its lessons. Shed gone to collect her things from an exand ended up with something far more valuable: a deeper bond with her sister. Maybe that was the point of all the painto remind her what truly mattered.
