**Everyone Stumbles, Not Everyone Recovers**
“Emily, where on earth will you find a man like that? You can always get divorced later. A married woman always has her pick. The responsibility falls on the husband, while the ‘other man’ has his hands freeno commitments, just a foolish mistress to enjoy. But if you end up alone, no one will look twice at you. Especially with little Thomas growing up. He needs his real father, not some stranger. Theres no logic in what youre doing,” I said, genuinely trying to talk sense into my childhood friend.
Yet I knew I was wasting my breath. Emily had already made up her mind.
Life often forces us to choose. There are always two pathsthe right one and any other. But who opens the right doors and shuts the wrong ones? Sometimes, even the soundest advice falls on deaf ears. We learn from our own mistakes. The wisdom of generations means nothing. Then we weep, regret, and wallow in misery.
I have two close friendsEmily and Olivia. Weve known each other since we were girls. Emily is from my old neighbourhood, Olivia from school. We know everything about each other, as only the closest can.
The three of us are so different that Im friends with Emily and Olivia separately. Once, I tried bringing them together, but no luck. My friends are like night and day.
“How can you stand that overdressed doll? What could you possibly talk about? Nothing but clothes and married men,” Emily muttered after meeting Olivia.
“That friend of yours has a neckline down to her navel. A shameless flirt, clearly. Eyes always hunting for a man with a fat wallet. And that smile? Fake as they come. Everythings for show. Not to mention the botched lip filler,” Emily huffed, scrutinising Olivia.
Their first meeting was their last. The girls’ night out was ruined. I never tried again.
Over the years, weve had it allarguments, misunderstandings, reconciliations, months of sulking silence, you name it.
Now, all three of us are forty. Emily has a son, Olivia a daughter.
Emily divorced her husband, James, years ago. It all started so romantically.
They met in a café. At the time, James was married with a daughter. Emily, undeniably striking and eccentric, always turned heads. She stood outbright, unforgettable. Shed finished art school, sewed her own unique clothes, often shockingly bold. She dreamed of her own business, a solid marriage, a loving husband.
For a while, she had it all. Then, like snow in the sun, it melted away. And worseEmily herself had a hand in it. She was the type to dash through a yellow light rather than wait for green.
James didnt hesitatehe left his wife for Emily. They threw a lavish wedding. Then came the grind of daily life. James adored her. Eighteen years her senior, he treated her like a beloved daughter, calling her “Mouse.” *”Mouse, fancy Paris? Done. A new car? No problem. The latest sewing machine? Here you go. Lip fillers? My treat!”*
Every whim was granted as if by magic. Of course, James was no saintsaints dont walk the earth. He had his complaints. *”Why isnt dinner ready? The flats a mess, dust everywhere, my shirts unironed…”* Emily would silence him with a passionate kiss. Hed fry his own eggs, vacuum, heat the iron…
Emily was Jamess third wife. Maybe thats why he feared losing her, forgiving every domestic shortcoming.
Then Thomas was born. James worshipped the boy, but Emily? She never warmed to motherhood. More and more, she slipped away, leaving Thomas with James or his mother. With looks like hers, temptation was everywhere. As her closest friend, I knew about every affair. James suspected but stayed silent. *”Shes so much youngermaybe shes starved for love,”* the cuckolded husband reasoned.
After eight years, the marriage hit a crisisas they do. Not every couple survives it.
By then, Emily had her own thriving business, standing firmly on her own feet. She decided she didnt need James. She left, taking Thomas, rented a flat, and settled in. *”I hate James. Hes useless in bed. I hope some woman snatches him up so hell leave us alone,”* she told me.
Well, as they say, a woman always gets her way.
Thomas became the battleground. He loved both parents equally, but with Emily always working, life was calmer at Dadsespecially with a doting grandmother. He moved in with James.
Emily was torn between her son and her non-stop work, but she wouldnt change a thing. James called endlessly, pleaded, used Thomas as leverage. Emily was unmoved. *”The bridge is burned. Full stop, no commas.”*
Young, beautiful, and free, Emily soon had another man in her sightsa workplace fling. Never mind that he was married with two kids. *”His wife should watch him better. Ill borrow him and return him. No harm done.”*
They jetted off to Germany, Greeceall whirlwind romance.
True to her word, Emily “borrowed” him for six months, then sent him back. James still called, begging her to reconsider. It wore on her. Then she met Danielher age, unmarried. Love bloomed. He moved in.
At first, it seemed fine. Then came the truthDaniel liked a tipple too much. Work wasnt his strong suit either. *”Em, why dont I help with your business?”*
Emily saw the light. *”Victoria, I think Ive taken in a drunk gold-digger.”*
“Kick him out, Emily! Hes latched onto you like a leech,” I urged.
Then an old schoolmate called. *”Emily, hope you wont mindJames and I are getting married. Ive never been happier!”*
*”Hope you walk the same road forever!”* Emily replied coolly.
So, Emily ended up alone. Thomas is nineteen now. He doesnt speak to her. She calls, but he ignores her. Once, he answered. *”Dads new wife raised me. Focus on your business, Mum. Stop calling.”*
Olivia, though, had the sense to weather her crisis.
She met William on holiday. Hed tagged along with a mate, though he had a wife. Ill never understand spouses who let each other holiday aloneflirting with disaster.
Soon, Olivia announced her wedding. The holiday fling became a full-blown marriagecelebrated in two cities since William was from out of town. Olivia moved in with him. We saw less of each other but spoke often, so I knew every twist in her tale.
William adored Oliviahis sunshine. He built them a solid home, furnished it luxuriously, bought two cars. Their daughter, Sophie, arrived. William anticipated Olivias every wish. Clothes, shoes, cosmeticsonly the best.
Olivia got another degree but never needed to work. William provided everything. Her life revolved around herself and Sophie. She visited her hometown rarely.
At first, she missed everything. But time passed. New friends, new life. *”Live and be happy!”* youd think.
Then, seven years in, Olivia wanted a divorce. *”The loves gone. Dead and buried.”* Her parents, William, his motherall baffled. Olivia stayed with Sophie at her parents, refusing to return. She even planned to move back permanently.
*”Victoria, you wont believe itIm bored stiff with William. Dead inside. His jealousys suffocating. Those roses? All thorns.”*
*”Too comfortable for your own good. Roses bother you now? Watch outsomeonell snatch him before you blink.”*
Olivia was stunning, polished, knew her worth. A pleasure to look atevery detail perfect, drenched in French perfume. Naturally, William was wildly jealous. He tried everything to win her back.
The crisis dragged on two years. Then, finally, a thaw. Olivia and William reunited. He still worked like a dog to give them everything.
Maldives, Venice, ItalyOlivia, William, and Sophie saw it all.
Once, she confessed to me: *”I nearly lost the most important person…”*
