What are you doing here? Emily asked, her tone wary.
Im back, as you can see, James said with a grin, gesturing toward the suitcases.
Since when? Emily tilted her head. Its been six months.
Emily, I cant keep pretending otherwise, James sighed heavily. If I think Ive abandoned you, my heart shatters. It feels like its being ripped apart, watching you suffer here.
Im suffering? Emily asked.
At least I dont have to put on a show for everyone, James chuckled. You can tell the world my leaving meant nothing, that youre fine without me.
I understand how hard it is for youalone, and with a child!
Emily hummed thoughtfully.
Did you change the lock? James rattled a set of keys in his hand. Probably broke it. Heres the proofI didnt oil the lock in time, so it jammed.
Emily fell silent, unsure how to reply. The lift chime interrupted, announcing the floor.
Dad? Tommy, their fiveyearold, called, confused.
Yes, lad, James knelt, opening his arms. Im moving back in. Come, give me a hug!
Tommy hesitated, glanced at his mother, who gave a quiet nod.
Alright, Emily said, come in, youll see.
James entered the flat as the owner would, but reached the kitchen like a guest.
A new key rack and shoe cabinet stood by the hall, a different lamp lit the entryway, and the interior doors were fresh.
When Emily walked past the bathroom following James, she flipped a switch.
Whats that? James asked.
You remember how damp the bathroom always was? Emily reminded him. I installed an extractor so the door can stay open.
Its been about twenty minutes never mind! she waved off. Tea, coffee?
Make some coffee, James said, sitting on a stoolanother new one.
Emily grabbed a capsule from the jar, loaded it into the machine, and pressed the button.
Ill just change my clothes, she smiled.
No problem, James replied, motioning casually.
Even the stools and coffee maker were new, as were the pots. The tiles now framed the kitchen apron, replacing the old peelandstick film James had once put up. New towel hooks hung by the sink.
When Emily returned in her sporty tracksuitshed previously roamed in housecoatsJamess mood had shifted dramatically from when he first arrived.
Whats that youve brought? James asked, his tone sharp.
Who? Emily asked, puzzled.
What man did you bring into the house? I should know whos raising my son! And, by the way, were not divorced yet!
Drink your coffee, Emily replied with a wry smile.
Look at her! James shouted. I felt sorry for her, came back, and now shes doing whatever she wants while Im still married! Emily!
Coffee, please, James barked.
Ill pour this coffee over your head! James lunged. Whats happening here? I demand an answer!
Six months earlier, Emily had decided her life was over. The shock seemed unbearable.
Emily, I think our marriage has run its course, James had declared. The love and warmth are gone.
Whats left that ties us together? Living together just for the sake of our son feels like a huge sacrifice.
Divorce? Emily asked, voice trembling.
I suggest we dont rush, James said. I could be wrongmaybe terribly wrong. Lets not divorce now; we can live apart. I wont visit often, but you can call if you truly need me. Just dont keep calling; I might already have a new life.
He then added, Dont bother with official maintenance paymentsbureaucracy is a pain. Theyll only grant you about £15,000.
Heres what Ill give you for the coming month, then Ill transfer whatever I earn each payday. Everyone is an adult; we should support ourselves. He promised child support as well.
Emily felt adrift, caught between heaven and earth. Nine years of what she thought was a happy marriage collapsed in an instant. She couldnt recall any warning signs; everything had seemed fine.
Why had Emily concluded her life was over? Because outside of the marriage, she had nothing else. Her independent adult life had only begun after theyd both waited for her degree and their wedding.
James had always been theredriving her to interviews, handling paperwork, accompanying her to prenatal appointments, even insisting on a joint birth plan. Hed taken her home from the hospital, showered her with fresh renovations, and bought new furniture.
They werent burdened by a mortgage; Emily had inherited a flat from a distant aunt, providing funds for the makeover. Their social roles were typical: James let Emily manage the household while he didnt rush around if she asked for help. He got along well with Emilys parents, and she was friendly with his mother and sister. Holiday gatherings always involved a big table, with no hard feelings.
When Tommy grew older, Emily returned to work, but Jamess schedule changed, so he stopped picking her up. Emily began commuting herself; her father gave her a car and paid for her driving lessons. If anything happened to the car, she asked James to tow it to the garage. James, however, refused because women get treated unfairly at garages, and he didnt want to be charged extra.
Emily never leaned on James for household matters; she solved them herself, calling him only when she truly couldnt. At work she earned respect for her diligence, climbing two rungs up the career ladder in five years. She always ran to James with her successes, and he celebrated them.
Then, without warning, James left. Emily felt lost, searching for his presence, and everything seemed to slip from her grasp. Her parents noticed her despondency. Her mother grew anxious, while her father, David Anderson, stepped in.
Sweetheart, life throws all sorts of curveballs, David said after hearing why Emily was upset. Its not a reason to lose hope. Its tough to understand, even harder to accept, but life doesnt stop.
Dad, everything is falling apart, Emily sobbed. I have no energy or desire to do anything.
Lily, your mum and I will always be here for you. Youre smart and capable; dont disappoint us. David said gently, with no accusation, just encouragement.
Emily spent a month in a kind of inertia, making no changes to the home James had left. Then something surprising happened. It was as if she had removed James from a math problem and solved it anew, getting completely different answers.
She discovered she didnt need to clean every day; the house stayed tidy for four to seven days even with a sevenyearold son. Laundry reduced dramatically; the detergent bottle that had lasted three months suddenly seemed endless. She realized the stove didnt have to be on three hours a day; cooking every other day was enough, far less than before.
Money? Previously, Jamess salary and the family budget covered everything. Now she only had her salary and a £15,000 child maintenance, yet by months end she still had £25,000 left. Did I miss a payment? she wondered, but everything balanced, and the house was comfortable.
Shed long wanted new doors in the rooms, and now the funds were there. A local hardware store offered installers. Two sturdy young men arrived, removed the old doors, hauled them to the skip, fitted the new ones, and swept up after themselves. Emily imagined how much James would have argued about changing them.
Money in the pocket prompted purchases. She bought a key rack, a new hallway lamp, and a shoe cabinet. She thought about asking James to help assemble them, then remembered his request not to be pulled back in.
Just a handyman for an hour? she mused. Why not? It turned out cheap and quick. A handyman arrived, listened, and after an hour said, All set. I washed the bathroom tiles, and the dampness is gone. No worries about mould.
Can we install ventilation? Emily asked.
Theres a vent already. Ill fit an extractor and link it to the switch. Half an hour, a little cost, he replied. Tomorrow afternoon works for you?
Easy, simple, no dramajust pay and its done, the handyman said, sparking new plans for further improvements.
Tommys school holidays were approaching, so Emily decided to take him to his grandmothernot her own, but Jamess mother. Even though James had left, there was no tension with his family. They spent a pleasant afternoon chatting about nothing in particular; Jamess sister and cousin Kate joined, swapping the latest celebrity gossip.
Three days later James burst in, proclaiming, Im back!
You could demand when you were my husband, Emily replied. Now just have a coffee and leave.
Im not going anywhere! James shouted. Im still your husband! I came back because I felt sorry for you, so you wouldnt disappear without me!
As you can see, Emily smiled, you havent vanished, but youre only a husband on paper. Thats easy to fix, and Ill handle it soon.
James stared, bewildered, as his mind refused to accept that his noble gesturestaying away to spare the familyhad been rebuffed.
Dont want coffee? Then go. I have lessons to do with the son! Emily waved a hand dismissively.
The sudden souring of relations with his motherinlaw and sisterinlaw made sense; they were the ones who had told James to save Emily from her own happiness after he left.
In the end, Emily realized that the only person she could truly rely on was herself. By taking responsibility, making small changes, and accepting what she could control, she rebuilt a stable, fulfilling life. She learned that when doors close, you can open new ones yourself, and that selfreliance is the most dependable foundation of all.
