**No Air to Breathe**
Lucy slowly turned the key in the lock and carefully stepped inside the flat. No matter how softly she tried to close the door, it still clicked shut. Without switching on the lights, she slipped off her shoes and tiptoed toward her room—until the sharp flick of a switch behind her cut through the silence like a gunshot.
“Lucy, where have you been? It’s so late. I rang Daisy. You lied to me,” Mum’s voice came out of the dark.
Lucy froze, sharply inhaling, before turning to face her.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” she shot back.
“How could I sleep when you weren’t home? I was worried,” Mum said, her tired eyes scanning Lucy’s face.
“I’m an adult, Mum. Stop hovering,” Lucy muttered irritably.
“Oh yes, very grown-up,” Mum sighed, waving her off but leaving the door open behind her.
Lucy hesitated, then followed and sat beside her on the sofa.
“Sorry, I lost track of time.”
Mum looked exhausted, the harsh ceiling light deepening the lines under her eyes—eyes that held both disappointment and fear.
“I wasn’t alone. I was with Ethan. We went to the cinema, then for a walk. There’s no need to worry.”
“Ethan?”
“Yeah. I met him two weeks ago. He’s… different. Knows so much.” A faint smile touched Lucy’s lips, her gaze drifting dreamily. She leaned closer, resting her head on Mum’s shoulder.
“So last time you were with him too, not Daisy?”
“Sorry.”
“I understand, but why lie? Why not just tell me? Is he at uni too?”
“He already graduated. Works in finance,” Lucy said quickly.
“So he’s older? Oh, love…” Mum sighed, and Lucy braced herself for an argument, but Mum surprised her. “Will you bring him round to meet me?”
“Of course. You’ll like him.”
“I didn’t even notice you growing up,” Mum said wistfully. “It’s late—get some sleep.”
“Night, Mum.” Lucy kissed her cheek and retreated to her room.
Under the covers, she stared at the ceiling, replaying every word, every kiss, lost in thought…
By morning, Mum had already left for work. Lucy washed up, ate the breakfast left for her, and grabbed her phone.
“Morning! At work already?” she chirped.
“Yeah,” Ethan answered curtly.
“Bad time?” she asked, hearing the distance in his voice.
“Yep. I’ll ring you back.” He hung up.
“‘You’? Since when do you call me ‘you’?” she muttered, staring at her phone until the screen went black.
Probably someone nearby overhearing, she reasoned, waiting for him to call back. She tried reading, but the words blurred. The telly had nothing good on. She rang Daisy, and they met for ice cream. Lucy gushed about being in love—until Ethan finally called.
“Sorry, Little Bird, bad timing earlier. Work chaos. Meet tonight?”
“Yes!” she beamed.
When they met, she blurted, “Mum wants to meet you.”
“You told her about us?” Ethan tensed. “She’s okay with this?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
“It’s early days… Meeting parents feels serious.”
“Are we not serious?” Lucy frowned.
“Of course we are.” He pulled her close, too close for her to see his face. “Just… mums interrogate. Background checks, the lot.”
“How many parents have you met, then? Spill.” She poked him teasingly.
“Couple times.”
“Nothing to hide, right? No secret exes locked in a basement?” She laughed. “You’re not married?”
“What? No!”
“Alright, where are we going?”
“Can’t stay long—Mum needs me. Let’s just walk?” He kissed her, and every doubt melted away.
As they strolled, he whispered how he’d missed her, how he’d never felt like this before. Promised once Mum was better, he’d introduce them properly. Since Dad passed, she’d been fragile—he had to keep his phone off, not upset her…
Lucy imagined their future—him coming home to her, flowers in hand, kissing her. Her heart fluttered just thinking about it.
“So, Saturday? Mum’s making her chocolate cake.”
He answered with another kiss.
Saturday came. Ethan rang—his mum was unwell, paramedics called, he couldn’t leave her…
Lucy deflated.
“It’s fine. A caring son makes a good husband. More cake for us,” Mum said.
Lucy forced a bite to spare her feelings. Daisy was away at her family’s cottage, leaving Lucy restless. Following Mum’s advice, she went out. Late summer warmth hung in the air.
She wandered far, bought ice cream—then froze. Ethan pushed a pram, a blonde woman beside him. Lucy ducked behind a tree, watching until they vanished. The ice cream melted in her grip.
Her mind raced—wife? Child? No. He’d said neighbour. But why lie?
At home, Mum read her face instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“Tired,” Lucy mumbled, locking herself in her room.
Days later, Ethan called, bright and eager. “Missed you. Got a surprise.”
Curiosity overruled suspicion. At an old brick house, he led her inside. “My mate’s flat,” he said, kissing her before she could ask questions.
Later, tangled in sheets, she finally asked about the woman and pram.
“Neighbour. Ran into her at the chemist,” he said lightly. “Thought she was my wife? That’s cute.”
“You *lied*,” she whispered.
“You’re *my* wife,” he murmured, kissing her again.
He hailed a cab, gave an address—one she memorised. From then on, they met twice a week at his friend’s flat. The rest of the time, Lucy ached for him.
Mum noticed—the silence, the distance.
Autumn faded into winter. Festive lights went up, but Lucy had stopped hoping for a Christmas with Ethan.
“Plans for New Year’s?” Mum asked.
“I don’t even know anymore,” Lucy snapped.
“Talk to me. You’re hurting. I can’t watch you drown in this.”
Lucy looked up, eyes raw. “I’m pregnant.”
Mum clutched her chest. “Does he know?”
Lucy shook her head.
“Tell him.”
They cried together late into the night.
Next day, Lucy went to Ethan’s. Phone off, as usual. An elderly man directed her to the top floor.
From behind the door came a baby’s cry. A blonde woman answered. “Oh, I thought you were the doctor.”
“Does Ethan live here?”
The woman blinked. “Yes—” A crash, the baby wailed, and she rushed off, leaving the door ajar.
Lucy backed away. Wife. Child. No sick mum—just lies.
Her phone buzzed—Ethan’s angry text: *Why’d you show up? Lost the plot?*
At home, Mum was decorating the tree. Lucy locked herself in the bathroom, turned on the tap. Found Dad’s old razor…
Mum broke down the door just in time.
Hospital lights burned Lucy’s eyes.
“You scared me half to death,” Mum whispered, gripping her hand.
After exams, they went to Brighton. There, Lucy met a boy—same hometown, different uni.
She laughed again. Most days.
Sometimes, though—just for a second—her smile faltered, shadows flickering behind her eyes.
But it passed. Everything does.
*You didn’t know. You couldn’t have known love would turn into waiting, lying, begging for scraps. That one day, you’d wake up stranded in someone else’s life. No one warns you.*
*Run. If you can’t run, crawl. Before they break your wings for good.*
