**Diary Entry**
I only wanted to help my sister, but in the end, all I heard was, “From now on, you mean nothing to me.”
“Mum, did you make cordial?” asked Emily as she stepped into the kitchen, where the sweet scent of cherries filled the air.
“I did, love,” smiled Margaret, stirring the pot. “Cherry, just how you like it.”
Emily hugged her mother from behind and peeked into the saucepan. The dark red syrup bubbled gently, the familiar aroma bringing back childhood memories.
“Is Lucy coming over today?” she asked, taking a seat at the table.
“She said shed stop by for lunch. Wants to talk about something important.”
Margaret poured the cordial into glasses and slid one toward her daughter.
“Try itnot too sweet, is it?”
Emily took a sip and shook her head.
“Perfect. Just like when we were kids.”
Her mother sat opposite, studying her carefully.
“Emily, have you noticed Lucys been acting odd lately? She used to call every day, now weeks go by in silence.”
“Mum, shes got work, the kidsshes busy.”
“Maybe. But somethings off. Yesterday, I ran into her at the shop, said hello, and she looked right through me.”
Emily frowned. Lucy had been distant for monthsshort replies, leaving family gatherings early, barely speaking.
“Probably just stress,” Emily suggested. “Ill talk to her.”
The doorbell interrupted them. Margaret hurried to answer it.
“Lucy! So glad youre here!” her cheerful voice carried from the hall.
“Hi, Mum,” came the flat reply.
Emily heard footsteps, then Lucy appeared in the kitchen doorway, tense, lips pressed into a thin line.
“Hey, Luce,” Emily greeted. “Sit downMum made cordial.”
“No thanks,” Lucy snapped, remaining standing.
Margaret blinked at her younger daughter.
“Lucy, whats wrong? You seem”
“Im fine,” Lucy cut in. “I need to talk to Emily. Alone.”
Emilys brows rose. Shed never heard that icy tone from her sister before.
“Mum, maybe give us a minute?”
Margaret nodded and left, casting a worried glance back.
Lucy stepped closer but didnt sit.
“Enough playing the saint,” she said coldly.
“What?” Emily frowned.
“Your little secret. Thought I wouldnt find out?”
A chill ran down Emilys spine. Fragments of memory surfacednothing concrete, just unease.
“Lucy, explain properly. Whats going on?”
“Remember James, do you?” Lucys voice sharpened.
Emily froze. JamesLucys husband. Theyd had an awkward encounter months ago, but shed assumed no one knew.
“What exactly are you accusing me of?”
“Stop pretending!” Lucys anger flared. “I know about your little café meetings. How you comforted him when we were fighting. How you hugged him in the car park.”
She pulled out her phone, shoving photos at Emilyher and James at a café, talking, one of them embracing.
“Lucy, its not what you think”
“Oh really?” Lucy sneered. “Then what? Explain why my sister was sneaking around with my husband!”
Emily exhaled heavily. Shed dreaded this conversation.
“James came to me for advice,” she said carefully. “Said you were arguing, talking divorce. He was desperate.”
“And you *helped*?” Lucys voice turned brittle. “How noble!”
“Lucy, he was heartbroken! Said he loved you, didnt want to lose the family. I just listened.”
“Listened?” Lucy finally sat, rigid. “Why you? Why not his mates? Or his mum?”
Emily faltered. Why *had* James come to her?
“I dont know. Maybe because Im your sisterId understand your side.”
“Liar!” Lucy exploded. “He came to you because youve *always* hung on his every word! Even when we were dating, you flirted with him!”
“Lucy, thats ridiculous! We met a few times. Yes, I hugged himhe was in tears. But nothing happened!”
“And then he suddenly changed his mind about divorce,” Lucy spat. “Started preaching about saving the family. I thought it was his idea. Turns out it was *yours*!”
Emily stood, moving toward her.
“Lucy, I just wanted to help. It hurt seeing you both so miserable.”
“*Help?*” Lucy recoiled. “You decided *for me*! Meddled in my marriage without asking!”
“But you didnt divorce! Things are better now!”
“Better?” Lucys eyes glittered with furious tears. “You think no divorce means *happy*? James throws your name in my face every fightEmily says we should work it out, Emily says family matters. Im trapped because of *you*!”
Emily sank back into her chair. The damage was deeper than shed imagined.
“Lucy, I never called you selfish”
“Then what *did* you say?” Lucys voice shook. “Tell me *exactly* what you whispered to my husband!”
Emily felt the trap tighten. Every word would dig her deeper.
“I said you loved each other. That you had kids, a life together. That temporary problems shouldnt break you.”
“*Temporary?*” Lucy shot up. “He *cheated*, Emily! I found texts with his ex! Is that temporary to you?”
The ground seemed to drop beneath Emily. James had never mentioned an affair.
“Lucy, I didnt know”
“Of course not! But you gave *advice* anyway! Now Im stuck with a man I cant stand, because *Saint Emily* said so!”
Margaret appeared in the doorway, pale.
“Girls, whats all this shouting?”
“Not your business, Mum,” Lucy snapped.
“Lucy!” Margaret gasped. “How dare you speak to me like that?”
Lucy turned, and Emily saw the raw pain in her eyes.
“How *should* I speak?” Lucy asked bitterly. “Smile and pretend everythings fine? Like our *perfect* family taught me?”
“Lucy, leave Mum out of this,” Emily said.
“Its *all* of you!” Lucys voice cracked. “Mum always said I was stubborn, should listen more. And youyou just *had* to fix things!”
Margaret looked between them, lost.
“I dont understand. Whats happened?”
“Your golden child,” Lucy said icily, “has been meeting *my husband* behind my back, telling him how to save our marriage.”
Margaret gasped. “Emily, is this true?”
“Mum, its not like”
“Its *exactly* like that!” Lucy cut in. “Now Im supposed to *thank* her? Live with a cheater because *Emily* knows best?”
Emily reached for Lucy, but she stepped back.
“Lets talk calmly. Ill explain.”
“No explanations.” Lucys voice was flat. “Just know this: youre dead to me now.”
Silence. Even Margaret was speechless.
“Lucy, dont be daft,” Margaret whispered. “Youre sisters.”
“*Were* sisters,” Lucy corrected. She pulled out her phone, fingers flying.
“What are you doing?” Emily asked.
“Erasing you. Socials, contacts, everything. I never want to see your name again.”
“Lucy, stop! This is insane!”
“*Insane?*” Lucys laugh was jagged. “You hijacked my *life*, made me stay with a man I hate, and *Im* insane?”
“No one *made* you!”
“Your advice did! James quotes you *daily*Emily says this, Emily says that. I felt *guilty* for wanting out!”
Margaret clutched her chest.
“Girls, please. My heart”
Lucy barely glanced at her.
“Mum, go lie down. This doesnt concern you.”
“How can I rest when youre tearing each other apart?” Margaret sobbed. “Youve always been so close!”
“*Were* close,” Lucy said softly. “But loyalty ends where betrayal starts.”
“*Betrayal?*” Emilys voice broke. “I tried to *help*!”
“*Help?*” Lucy gripped the table. “You didnt *ask* if I wanted it! Didnt even *hear* my side! You just *knew better*!”
“But James said”
“*James said!*” Lucy mimicked. “Did it *occur* to you he might *lie*? That you only got *his* version?”
Emilys stomach dropped. Lucy was rightshed never questioned James.
“Lucy, Im sorry. I messed up.”
“*Now* you see?” Lucys laugh was hollow. “*After
