Emily bolted out of the flat she shared with her older sister Harriet, clutching a halfpacked tote. Are you pregnant? Harriet asked, eyes wide as she stepped out of the bathroom, her hair still slicked back from the shower. And why are you here in the first place?
Emily rolled her eyes. Did anyone ever tell you that you cant just pilfer someone elses things without asking? Harriet slammed her laptop shut with a theatrical thud, giving Emily a look that could have melted steel.
Realising the tension, Emily slipped into the spare bedroom, and that night she decided the only sensible thing was to get out of the flat entirely Harriet was busy hunting down a weird homeremedy for her, after all.
At twentythree, love knocked on Emilys door quite literally. A stranger strolling down the cobbled streets of Manchester stopped, handed her a white rose on a long stem, and said, Mind if I introduce myself? He was nothing flashy ordinarylooking, but with a magnetic charm that made the world feel a tad brighter. He was also oddly attentive, remembering that she liked tea without milk and never once let her finish a sentence without a supportive nod.
A month later Emily confessed she couldnt imagine life without James. He felt the same, and within another month shed moved from her cramped rented studio into his modest onebedroom flat. Six months after that, he popped the question, ring and all.
Hes hes Emily fumbled for adjectives in front of Harriet, I adore him, and he adores me.
Congratulations, Harriet replied flatly, as if Emily had just announced shed discovered a new shade of beige.
Emily brushed off the chilled tone. Since mums passing, Harriet was her only close relative, and despite their alwaysabittense rapport, she still needed a sister.
Thanks! Emily sighed. Only problem is James is off on a threemonth work stint to earn extra cash for our honeymoon.
Right, Harriet said, voice as expressionless as a weatherreport. Ill keep you posted on the wedding. Youre, of course, invited.
Sure.
It was always the same: Emily delicate, impressionable, a touch fragile; Harriet serious, hardedged, fiercely independent. Emily even feared introducing James to Harriet in case the older sister didnt like him.
James called home from a weekend roadtrip, Love, its only 800 miles, Ill be back for weekends or you can pop over. Their meetings were rare his schedule was packed, and the faster they sorted the new kitchen appliances, the quicker hed be back. Emily, meanwhile, was happy to wait forever; she earned a modest assistantaccountant salary and could hardly contribute much to their future household.
Then the odd messages began. First texts, then voice notes from a robotic, disembodied male voice warning Emily never to do anything that might upset him. The tone was chilling, and the messages vanished after a few hours. She kept it to herself, though the gooseflesh they gave her was real.
One night a strange wooden figure appeared on her doorstep a voodoo doll with chest pierced by a large needle, long chestnut hair identical to Emilys, and a tiny note with threats matching the earlier messages. The sight made her feel sick instantly. She called in sick for work, claiming a fever that didnt exist, and didnt tell anyone else.
She didnt want to bother James, who was busy making money, so she laughed it off as a silly prank. No friends, no enemies maybe someone from Jamess side was pulling strings. When James returns well sort it all out, she muttered, trying to banish the thoughts.
Two days later a motorcyclist swerved almost onto her, nearly clipping her as she stepped out of the back garden. He braked at the last second, missing her by inches. Startled, Emily lunged forward, tripped on the kerb and went headfirst into the pavement. A passerby, despite her protests, called an ambulance.
At the hospital they found a mild concussion, a couple of bruises and a pregnancy. She refused admission, told the staff shed fallen on her own, and once home realised she couldnt go back to Jamess flat. Someone was clearly out to get her, and now she was carrying their child.
Can I crash at your place for a few days? Emily begged Harriet over the phone.
Whats happened? Harriet grumbled. Did the love of your life kick you out onto the street?
James is on a work trip and
Oh right, fine. Come over, tell me everything.
Emily unloaded the entire saga the creepy messages, the doll, the nearmiss. I dont want to distract James. I want to tell him about the baby myself, make it nice and proper he loves a good presentation.
Harriet, who had a steady job and a decent salary, reminded Emily, Its not a hostel, love. Seeing Emilys weary face, she relented, Two weeks, tops.
James had promised a twoday leave from his assignment, so his return was imminent. Meanwhile, Emily tried to stay out of Harriets sight, buying groceries, cooking, keeping the flat tidy, yet she could feel Harriets irritation whenever she walked past.
Ten days later her phone died, refusing to charge, and she needed a medication urgently. In a panic she shouted from the bathroom, Harriet, can I borrow your laptop?! She opened it, typed the first letters of her search, and the browser suggested termination of pregnancy. The page was filled with all sorts of home remedies and dubious concoctions.
Are you pregnant? Harriet peeked in, surprised. And why are you here?
Did anyone ever tell you you cant just take other peoples stuff without asking? Harriet snapped, slamming the laptop shut again.
Emily, now convinced she had to leave the flat at dawn, slipped out quietly, thinking the worst would pass before James came back in a few days.
When James finally returned, his face was a storm cloud. He asked, Whos the babys father, Emily?
Of course its you! What what made you think otherwise? Emily stammered, terrified.
He stared at her for a minute, then lunged forward, gripping her tightly. Im sorry! I lost it for a second when I got that odd message from an unknown number. I went mad, Im sorry, you idiot! He burst into tears, apologising over and over.
Emily sobbed, then, once she could speak, recounted the months bizarre events. Jamess expression flickered from shock to pallor to embarrassment.
Im really sorry, he said again when she finished. I should have told you everything from the start.
He confessed that three months before they met, hed dated Harriet. Shed even hinted at marriage, but something held him back. I drove Harriet to meet you, asked her to set us up, but she refused. I didnt leave and saw you instead. I fell for you straight away, not for my sister.
A heavy silence settled.
Did you think you could steal my fiancé? Harriet finally said, her voice low. I was pregnant with him, had an abortion. I never expected this but now youre both getting married, having a baby, and Im left out.
Emilys eyes were dry, her face a mask.
They wed a month and a half later in a modest ceremony, no fanfare, and a daughter arrived on schedule. Emily and James cut ties with Harriet completely. The end.
