Emma, hold on a sec! I havent cheated on you, okay? I swear on my health, or even on my mum, if you want!
Jack was bolting down the stairs after his wife, shouting so loud it made the whole block hear him. He didnt care that a few nosy neighbours peered out of their doors, eyes wide with that unhealthy curiosity, and he didnt mind that most of the flatmates were quietly listening at the gutted door peephole.
Emma burst out of the lift, jumped into a black cab and sped off. Jack could only watch her disappear with a lingering stare…
It all began three months ago, when Jacks life started sliding downhill. A colleague hed known for years, with whom hed only ever been professional, had just gone through a nightmare a miscarriage and a fast divorce. After months of rehab she came back to the office, but she was a completely different person.
Listen, I cant take this any longer. Shes been stalking me for a month calling at night, texting, even turning up at my flat a few times, Jack blurted into the managers office, irritation clear in his voice.
The manager just chuckled.
Love can be a bloody mess, cant it? Nothing criminal about a woman being smitten, he said.
But I havent done anything! We only ever talked about work. Now my marriage is cracking because of Lily, Jack almost shouted.
And what do you expect from me? Lilys a fine employee, but whatevers happening off the clock isnt my business, the manager shrugged.
Jack was on the brink of despair. At first he tried to ignore it, pretend everything was fine, but that charade was falling apart. Tension grew between him and Emma, and she started doubting his fidelity. She couldnt believe a woman could orchestrate those unmistakable texts, hints, and photos.
Emma, Im begging you, dont start. Ive never cheated on you. It never crossed my mind, Jack pleaded.
You think my words sound like excuses when theyre stacked against all those messages? Am I a fool who cant add two and two? Emma replied, flat as a board.
Shes doing it on purpose. I block her number and she writes from another. I cant stop her. Shes good at what she does, and I dont know how to prove Im clean.
I dont know, Jack. Honestly Im exhausted. Three months of this and Im done believing you. Too many coincidences, too many Lily moments in our life
Stop saying that! Shes not mine. I dont need her!
I dont know, Jack I really dont.
Emma kept wondering why she couldnt trust him any more. Shed once caught him nervously deleting messages, saw him wiping out a few photos with the corner of his eye. After that, he started staying late at work, became gruff and withdrawn.
Am I just being paranoid? Emma asked herself.
Lily was methodical, like a seasoned strategist. Back in the day shed been sweet and quiet, got married, went on maternity leave, then a colleague whispered that shed had a nervous breakdown after a miscarriage and her husband walked out. When she returned, she pretended everything was normal, then began dropping little attention signals toward Jack harmless compliments in the hallway, a friendly nod. He brushed it off.
But Lily soon turned into a fullblown storm, tearing down the trust Jack and Emma had built over the years.
After work theyd randomly bump into Lily at the supermarket, even though she lived in a different borough. Then she started going to the same gym as Jack, slipping into his phone calls with cheesy lines like Youre as cute as a kitten or I made you a coffee, why arent you coming over?
One day Lily staged a chance meeting at Jack and Emmas block.
Jack, Im stuck, my friend next door isnt answering, my phones at 2% and I cant get a cab. Could you come down? Please, she cooed from a new number.
Emma shrugged she wasnt about to abandon a stranger late at night, even if she trusted her husband. But watching Lily rush towards Jack as he stepped out of the lift, draping herself over his neck, was the final straw.
Later that night Jacks phone buzzed. Emma, who hadnt slept a wink, read the message and felt a cold shiver run down her spine:
Thanks for coming, otherwise Lily would be watching you. Ill be late by half an hour tomorrow, as we planned.
Jack you were supposed to meet a friend tomorrow, Emma whispered, stunned.
For the first time she typed a reply.
Talk in the morning. Im asleep. Ill call you.
He answered instantly: Got it. Cant wait to hear from you. You know Im always here.
Emma sat frozen, not knowing what to do. At dawn she decided to crash at her sisters for a while, to think things through away from Jack and Lily. She started packing quietly.
Jack woke to the jangle of keys. His phone lay on the pillow. Sensing something off, he leapt out of bed, sprinted to the front door and, in a desperate halfrun, tried to stop Emma from leaving. He burst back into the flat, frantic, like a trapped animal.
Emma didnt answer his calls. Her sister asked Jack not to bother her.
Days dragged on. Jack felt lost, knowing he had to do something, prove his innocence, win back his wifes trust.
A week later he finally mustered the courage. He rang Emmas sister and asked for a meeting with Emma.
Emma, please give me one chance. I know you dont believe me, but I have something that could change everything. After this, you decide if we stay together or part ways forever.
After a long pleading, Emma agreed.
They drove in silence. Jack kept an eye on the road, glancing occasionally at Emma through the windshield. She stared out at the duskcoloured scenery, trying to read his face.
Emma, I need to ask you something Jack said as he pulled up outside a modest terraced house. Im going to blindfold you. Well take a short walk. Please trust me.
Emma gave him a skeptical look but complied. Jack guided her gently, holding her elbow. They entered a building, and the smell of fresh paint hit her nose.
Are we at a construction site? she asked, a little tense.
Not exactly
Jack lifted the blindfold. Dim light filtered into an old school sports hall the very place where their story began.
In the centre, on a bench, lay a bouquet of white lilies. Emma froze.
Emma, do you know the moment I realised I was in love with you? Jack began.
She stayed silent, eyes roaming the high ceiling.
It wasnt when we were dating after the school prom, he continued. It was back in Year Ten, remember? I missed a few days of class and ended up in PE. I walked into that hall, didnt know anyone, and there you were, sitting after a volleyball match, hair in a messy bun, cheeks flushed. You laughed, and that laugh was contagious. In that instant I knew Id fallen for you, forever.
Emmas throat tightened, tears threatening. She hadnt recalled that day, but Jacks voice held every tiny detail.
I never betrayed you, he whispered, taking her hands. All this time Ive only ever been yours.
A tear slipped down her cheek. She looked into his eyes and saw the same sincerity that had drawn her to him years ago.
Id move jobs, get Lily out of my life, even change city or country, just to prove I never cheated, Jack said, voice cracking. All I need is for you to believe me.
They stood in that dusty old gym, the place where everything had started, and both felt that real love can survive even the fiercest storms.
