The Past of Him
“Thank you, Johnny! I dont know what Id do without you,” flashed across the phone screen.
Her husbands phone had vibrated right in her hand. Emily glanced automatically at the message. The sender was someone named Lucy. It ended with a pink heart, like a little kiss.
Emilys eyes widened. Lucy? Johnny? She might have thought it was a distant relative or a colleague, except for one detailher husband had never mentioned anyone by that name. Or had he kept it hidden?
She looked up sharply. She needed the truth first, not wild assumptions. But her heart twisted with jealousy.
“Whos Lucy?” she asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.
James, sipping his tea calmly, blinked in confusion.
“What?”
“Lucy,” she repeated, holding up the phone. “Who is she?”
He glanced at the screen, and for just a moment, something flickered in his eyes. He shrugged quickly.
“Oh Thats just Louise.”
Emily froze.
“Which Louise?”
“Well my ex. Theres nothing between us now.”
She set the phone down and folded her arms.
“Your ex calls you Johnny and thanks you with hearts? You think thats normal?”
James shrugged again, as if it werent worth discussing.
“Yeah. I lent her some money. She needed help, so I helped.”
Emilys anger flared.
“You gave money to your ex?!”
“Yeah, whats the big deal?”
“Whats the big deal?!” she snapped. “Seriously? You think its fine to take from our savings and hand it to some Lucy?”
He finally met her gaze.
“Emily, youre making a mountain out of a molehill. Weve known each other forever. Why wouldnt I help her?”
She laughed, but there was no joy in it.
“Youre married, James. To me! And yet youre still running after her.”
He sighed irritably, as if explaining something obvious to a child.
“We didnt end on bad terms. Shes not a stranger to me.”
“And am I the stranger?”
James fell silent. Emily shook her head and exhaled sharply.
“How long has this been going on?”
“What?”
“Your lovely little friendship.”
He looked away.
“Weve always talked. Even before you. I just never mentioned it. Didnt want to upset you.”
Emily felt heat rush through her.
“So youve hidden this for two years?”
“I didnt hide it! There was no reason to bring it up. Im not cheating. Why are you making a fuss?”
She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to shout.
“And how often do you help her?”
“Now and then. Small things. Fixing something, setting up her laptop.”
“So my husband runs around after another woman like a handyman?”
“What are you on about?!” he burst out. “I helped her, lent her money! Is that a crime? Id do the same for you!”
Emily stared at him with cold resolve.
“If you cant see whats wrong with this, then we have very different ideas of what marriage means.”
She turned and left the kitchen. She couldnt bear to look at him.
That day passed like a blur for Emily. Anger, hurt, confusion. She tried to think calmly, but one question echoed in her mind: “How did I not see this?”
James didnt act guilty. He no longer hid his chats with Louise, but he pretended it was nothing.
Over the next fortnight, the truth became clear. Her husband was often late from work. Every few days, Louise had some urgent problem.
“Im going to Louises tonight,” he said casually over dinner. “Her washing machine broke.”
Emily set her fork down and fixed him with a sharp look.
“Arent there other repairmen in town?”
“Come on, is it so hard to help someone?”
“For you, no. For me, yes.”
“Here we go again! Must we always talk about this?”
“Yes, again,” she said coldly. “Because your ex always needs saving. At least you dont have kids together.”
James sighed but kept eating.
“If it were a neighbour or my mother, would you react the same?”
“The difference is they wouldnt call you every day.”
“Emily,” he said wearily. “Youre acting like Ive cheated.”
“I dont know if you have, but this isnt normal. And it bothers me,” she shot back.
He smirked.
“You dont trust me.”
“Have you given me reason to?”
Silence settled between them.
Three days later, Louise reappeared.
“Louise called,” James announced indifferently. “She wants to buy a fridge but cant get it delivered.”
Emily turned slowly toward him.
“So now youre dropping everything to fetch her a fridge?”
“Whats the problem?”
“James, do you really not see it?”
“I see you making a scene over nothing.”
“Youre the one with the circus act. And I dont want to be part of it. If youre so eager to help Louise, move in with her. Save on petrol.”
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely.”
“So youre kicking me out?”
“No, James. Im giving you a choice. Either youre in this family, or you go your own way. I dont want you here anymore.”
She turned and walked away. She wouldnt fall for his games again. Maybe he thought honesty meant announcing where he was going. But to Emily, it wasnt honestyit was betrayal.
Twenty-four hours passed after their last argument. Emily sat in the kitchen, staring at her phone. James hadnt called, hadnt written. Hed gone. Maybe to
After ten days of silence, Emily understood that sometimes, losing someone isnt a loss at all, but a lesson in knowing your worth.
