I cant figure out where all this jealousy is coming from, I really cant. Ever since we started dating, its been one accusation after another. Theres always suspicion in your eyes.
“Max, whats this?” the girl asked sharply, holding up a shirt. “This pink stainis that lipstick? Huh? So much for staying late at work, then.”
“Emily, what are you even saying?” the guy sighed, sorting through his work things. “I just got off shift. What lipstick? The only woman in my department is Nurse Margaret. Honestly Im exhausted.”
Emily pressed her lips together, crumpled the shirt, and stormed off to the bathroom. Max let out a heavy sigh.
Theyd been together for over six months now, and everything between them had seemed perfectexcept for one thing. Emily was insanely jealous. She found reasons to doubt him even when there were none.
“Look, just look,” Emily groaned, shoving the shirt at her sister. “Hes definitely cheating. Look at this.”
Her sister, Sophie, took the shirt, sniffed the stain, and laughed.
“Whats so funny?” Emily snapped.
“Its jam. Fruit jam.”
Emily snatched the shirt back and sniffed it herself. Her face twisted between shock and confusion.
“You need to calm down,” Sophie said. “I dont get where all this paranoia comes from.”
Emily sat opposite her sister, avoiding eye contact.
“We didnt just start dating out of nowhere. I took him from someone else,” she admitted quietly. “He cheated on his ex with me. And at first, I thought hed never leave *me*, but then I realised he would. In a heartbeat. And I”
“Thats not an excuse to accuse him now. You need to learn to trust.”
“I *do* trust him,” Emily insisted. “I just I cant stand the thought of losing him.”
Sophie shook her head, lost for words.
Later that night, arms crossed, Emily confronted him again. “Where were you? Its one in the morning.”
Max exhaled tiredly. “Emily, *you* told me to go out with the lads. We watched the match, had a couple drinks. Whats the problem?”
“Tom got home ages agoI called his wife. Where were you for the last two hours?”
“Tom left early because he promised his missus, but me and James stayed. Emily, just drop it. I need sleep.”
Max walked into the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. He just wanted to forget, to escape the constant suspicion. He wanted things to feel easy again, like they used to. But Emily had ruined itagain.
Then, one afternoon, Emily stepped out of the shop, eyes glued to her phone, completely oblivious to her surroundings. A sudden movement caught her eyeand she gasped. Across the street, there was Max with some blonde girl hanging off him, laughing as he pulled her into a hug.
Blind with rage, Emily dropped her shopping and charged at them. She grabbed the girls arm and yanked her away.
“I *knew* it!” she screamed. “I knew you were cheating! Youre disgusting. Youve been lying to me this whole time! No” She shook her head frantically. “No, I was *right*! Youyoure a liar!”
Maxs expression darkened, his hands clenched, his eyes flicking to the blonde girl, who stood there stunned.
“Emily”
“Dont you *dare* speak to me! I dont want to hear your pathetic excuses!”
“Its my cousin. My *cousin*,” Max cut in sharply.
“What?” Emily froze.
“Aunt Lydias daughter. Youve met her. This is Victoriawe grew up together. And you need to go home. Well talk there.”
Emily obeyed, muttering a quick “sorry” to the confused girl before leaving.
Max came home late, furious. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes avoiding hers completely.
“Max”
“Im done,” he said flatly. “I cant take this anymore. Every single day, its another accusation. Youre suspicious of everythingmy patients, the nurses, the doctors, even the damn lampposts. Its gone too far. Im exhausted, Emily. *Actually* exhausted.”
“Max!” Emily cried. “Are you breaking up with me? Please I love you! Im sorryI dont know whats wrong with me, but Ill fix it. Please!”
She practically dropped to her knees, grabbing his hands, pleading with her eyes. Max *did* love herhed left a five-year relationship for her, something he never thought hed do. Shed won him over completely. But now? Now he was drowning in doubt.
“I love you,” he murmured, squeezing her hand. “But this isnt normal. I cant live like this.”
“Ill stop, I swear,” she sobbed. “Just stay. You dont understandI cant lose you.”
Max exhaled and pulled her close. He couldnt do it. He couldnt leave her. Not even after all this.
For the next few months, things were good. Emily didnt accuse himor at least, she didnt *show* itand Max enjoyed being with her again. He stopped leaving early for work or staying late just to avoid her.
But when flu season hit, the hospital was swamped. Max was run off his feet, coming home late every night, eating dinner, and collapsing into bed.
Emilys suspicions crept back. At first, she tried to ignore itmaybe his shirt smelled like perfume because he worked with women. No big deal. But the doubts festered. She checked his clothes, his phone, even followed him once.
One evening, after work, Max headed straight for the shower. This time, he was quickhe just wanted sleep. He opened the bedroom door quietly and froze.
Emily was scrolling through his phone.
“Emily what are you doing?”
She jumped, tossing the phone aside.
“Nothing! Just needed to make a call.”
Max nodded at her pink-covered phone on the bed.
“Yours was right there.”
“It died.”
His screen lit up with a message.
“Really? Completely dead? So now youre lying too.” He raised an eyebrow. “Anything else I should know?”
“Im sorry,” she whispered.
“Find anything, Sherlock?” he snapped, too sharp.
Emily shook her head.
Without a word, Max walked to the wardrobe and started packing. Emily leapt up, grabbing his arm.
“Pleaseno! Dont do this. Ill stop, I *promise*. I trust youMax!”
“No, Emily. I forgave you onceIm not making that mistake again. Im done. I just want to *live*. To trust and be trusted. This isnt a life.”
Within half an hour, hed packed his things while Emily sat on the bed, knees hugged to her chest, crying.
“I love you,” he said quietly. “But I cant do this anymore. And you? You wont change.”
Max left the flat and went back to his parents. He was *so* tired.
Distrust always ruins relationships, no matter how strong they seem. Maybe Emily feared Max would cheatjust like he had with his ex. But *she* was the one who chose him. And without trust, theres no love. No friendship. Nothing. That was her biggest mistake.
Leave your thoughts belowlet me know what you think!
