The words hung in the air like a dark cloud. «He married you, but he loves me,» her friend said, avoiding eye contact.
«Would you like some coffee, Emily?» Charlotte asked, flicking the kettle on and reaching for two mugs.
«Yes, please. Make it strongmy head’s splitting,» Emily replied, rubbing her temples before sinking onto a kitchen chair.
Charlotte measured the coffee silently, then turned to her friend. They’d known each other for over a decade, since their university days, and Charlotte could always read Emilys face like a book. Today, she looked exhausteddark circles under her eyes, her blonde hair hastily tied back.
«Late night again?» Charlotte asked carefully.
Emily nodded, tracing the pattern on the tablecloth.
«Work reports until half one. Due tomorrow, and the numbers still wont add up. I get home, and James is already asleep. I wake up, and hes already left for work. It’s been like this for a week.»
Charlotte set a steaming mug in front of her and sat down. Something flickered in her eyes, but Emily didnt notice.
«How are things between you two? Since the wedding?» Charlotte stirred sugar into her own drink.
«Fine, I suppose,» Emily sighed. «Still adjusting. You know how the first year issupposed to be the hardest. Mum says its all part of settling in.»
«Settling in,» Charlotte repeated, her voice bitter.
Emily finally looked up. «Charlotte, whats wrong? Youre not yourself today.»
«Im fine,» Charlotte waved her off. «Just tired. Works mad, and weve started redecorating. Its chaos.»
But Emily wasnt fooled. They knew each other too well. That lookthe same as when Charlotte had confessed her crush on their philosophy lecturer years ago. The same spark, the same tension.
«Tell me whats going on. Were best friends,» Emily pressed.
Charlotte stood, walked to the window, and stared into the garden. Then she turned sharply.
«Theres something I need to tell you. I dont know how youll take it.»
«What is it?» Emilys pulse quickened.
«Its about James.»
«James?» Emily set her mug down slowly. «What about him?»
Charlotte stepped closer but kept her eyes down. «Weve been seeing each other. For six months.»
Emily froze. The words didnt register at first.
«Seeing each other?»
«Yes. After work. On weekends when you visit your parents. Emily, Im sorryI never meant for this to happen. It just… did.»
«It just *did*?» Emilys voice was quiet but sharp. «An affair just *happened*?»
«Dont call it that. We just… understand each other. We talk, go for walks, see plays…»
«Plays,» Emily echoed. «And sleeping together? Was that just *understanding* too?»
Charlotte flushed but said nothing. That was answer enough.
Emily stood, legs trembling, but pride kept her upright.
«How long?» she asked, surprised at how steady she sounded.
«Six months. It started before your wedding. We tried to stop, but after… he called me.»
«After the wedding, he called you,» Emily repeated slowly. «So on our honeymoon, he was thinking of *you*?»
Charlotte looked away.
«Emily, I know this hurts. But he married youand he loves me. And I love him. We didnt want to hurt you, but»
«He married me but loves you,» Emily cut in, the words a death sentence.
The kitchen was silent except for the ticking clock and the hum of the fridge. Emily stood motionless; Charlotte still wouldnt meet her gaze.
«Why tell me now? You couldve kept lying.»
«I couldnt. James wants to tell you the truth, but I thought it should come from me. Were friends…»
«*Friends*,» Emily laughed bitterly. «Ten years of friendship, and this is where it leads.»
«Emily, love isnt a choice. It just happens. We didnt plan»
«You didnt *plan* to sit at my wedding, smiling? To ask how married life was? To tell me to be patient with my husband?»
«I wanted it to work for you, honestly. But I cant help how I feel. I love him.»
«And he loves you?»
Charlotte finally looked up, and Emily saw the truth in her eyes.
«Yes,» Charlotte whispered. «He does. He says he realised too latewhen it was already done.»
«Done?» Emily scoffed. «A wedding isnt a prison. He couldve said no.»
«He didnt want to upset you. Thought hed grow to love you. Everyone said you were perfect together.»
«Perfect,» Emily muttered, sinking back into the chair. Her legs gave way. «So he married me out of pity?»
«Not pity. Respect. He values you»
«But doesnt love me.»
«No. Im sorry.»
Emily covered her face. Six months of marriage, and all along, hed been with her best friend. The late nights, the excusesit all made sense now.
«Where?» she asked flatly.
«My flat. Sometimes cafés across town.»
«Your flat,» Emily repeated. «This kitchen, where were sitting now?»
Silence. That was answer enough.
Emily grabbed her bag.
«Where are you going?» Charlotte asked.
«Home. To talk to my *husband*.»
«Waitlets talk this through. There has to be a way»
«A way?» Emily turned at the door. «Shall we all live together? Or should I graciously hand him over and play the understanding friend?»
«I dont know. I just dont want to lose you.»
«You already did.»
The bus ride home was a blur. The words echoed in her mind: *He married you, but he loves me.*
The flat was silent. James wasnt home yet. Emily sat on the edge of their bed, replaying every momenthis distance, the excuses.
When he arrived, he kissed her cheek like always. A perfectly ordinary man, now a stranger.
«How was work?» she asked mechanically.
«Busy. Exhausting.»
She waited until after dinner.
«James,» she said. «Charlotte told me something today.»
He froze. «What?»
«That youve been seeing her. For six months.»
He exhaled sharply. «She told you?»
«Yes. In the kitchen where youve apparently been having dinner with her.»
«Emily…»
«Is it true?»
«Yes. I was going to tell you.»
«Six months. Our entire marriage.»
«Before too. We tried to stop, but…»
«But the *love* was too strong,» she finished.
He stood by the window. «I never meant for this. I thought Id grow to love you. Youre kind, stable»
«Stable,» she repeated. «Like a savings account.»
«I didnt want to hurt you.»
«And lying for six months *wasnt* hurting me?»
He looked ashamed. «It was. I hated pretending.»
«What now?»
«Divorce, I suppose.»
«I suppose,» she agreed. «And marry Charlotte?»
«If shell have me.»
«She will.»
That night, they slept on opposite sides of the bed. By morning, James left for work without a word. Emily called in sickshe needed time to think.
When Charlotte called at noon, Emily almost hung up.
«Meet me,» Charlotte pleaded.
«No. Say what you need to say now.»
Charlotte confessedhow it started at Emilys birthday, how James had doubts before the wedding, how theyd tried to stay apart.
«You couldve walked away,» Emily said.
«I tried. He came back.»
Emily hung up and turned off her phone.
That evening, she met James with a suitcase.
«Your things. Ill file for divorce tomorrow.»
He nodded. «Where will I stay?»
«Charlottes, I imagine.»
He hesitated. «If you need help with the paperwork»
«I dont.»
She shut the door behind him, then finally let herself cry.
The divorce was quick. James didnt contest anything. A month later, she heard he and Charlotte were living together. It didnt hurtjust felt distant, like a story about strangers.
Then, one Sunday in the park, a man with a Labrador helped her pick up dropped groceries. They talked. He looked at her in a way James never had.
«Fancy a coffee?» he asked.
«Maybe,» Emily said, smiling for the first time in months. Life, she realised, wasnt overit was just beginning.
The lesson? Truth cuts deeper than lies, but its the only wound that heals clean.
