**Diary Entry October 12th**
I cant understand where such fierce jealousy comes from in you. Truly, I cant. Every single day since we started dating, its the same accusations. Suspicion lingers in your eyes like a shadow.
“Max, what is this?” Emily demanded sharply, holding up my shirt. “This pink stainwhose lipstick is it? You were late at work again, werent you?”
“Emily, what are you on about?” I sighed, sorting through my things. “Ive just come off my shift. Lipstick? The only woman in my department is Nurse Margaret, and shes nearly sixty. Honestly Im exhausted.”
Emily pressed her lips together, crumpled the shirt, and stormed off to the bathroom. I slumped onto the sofa, rubbing my temples.
Six months wed been together. On paper, everything was perfectexcept for one thing. Emily was insanely jealous. She found reasons where none existed.
“Look at this,” she groaned to her sister, thrusting the shirt at her. “Hes definitely cheating. I know it.”
KateEmilys sisterexamined the stain, sniffed it, then laughed.
“Whats so funny?” Emily snapped.
“Its jam. Raspberry, by the smell of it.”
Emily snatched the shirt back, sniffed it again, and blinked in confusion.
“You need to calm down,” Kate said. “I dont get why youre so paranoid.”
Emily sank into a chair, avoiding her sisters gaze. “We didnt just start dating. I stole him from someone else. He cheated on his ex with me.” She swallowed hard. “At first, I thought hed never leave me. But now I know he will.”
“Thats no excuse to accuse him. Learn to trust.”
“I *do* trust him,” Emily protested. “I just I cant lose him.”
Kate shook her head, at a loss.
—
“Where *were* you?” Emily crossed her arms as I walked in past midnight.
“You *let* me go out with the lads,” I replied, exhausted. “We watched the match, had a few pints. Whats the issue?”
“James got home hours agoI called Lisa. Where were you the last two hours?”
“James left early for his missus. Steve and I stayed back.” I rubbed my eyes. “Emily, please. I just want to sleep.”
I headed to bed, wishing I could escape her constant suspicion. I wanted things to be easy again, like they used to be. But Emily, as always, ruined it.
—
Later that week, Emily spotted me across the street. Some blonde was hugging me, laughing as I patted her back. Before I could react, Emily charged over, yanking the girl away.
“I *knew* it!” she shrieked. “Youre cheating! I *knew* you would!”
I stared at her, furious. The poor girlmy cousin Victorialooked baffled.
“Emily”
“Dont you dare lie to me!”
“Its my *cousin*, Emily. Aunt Claras daughter. Youve met her.” My jaw clenched. “Go home. Well talk there.”
Emily paled, muttered an apology, and fled.
—
When I got back, I was done.
“Im tired of this,” I said flatly. “Every day, its something. You accuse me of cheating with patients, nurses, strangerseven *lampposts*. I cant live like this.”
“Max!” she cried, dropping to her knees. “Please, I love you! Ill change, I swear!”
I loved her tooenough to leave a five-year relationship for her. But now? Now I was just drained.
“I love you,” I whispered, gripping her hand. “But this isnt healthy.”
She sobbed promises, and like a fool, I stayed.
For a few months, things improved. Then flu season hit, work piled up, and Emilys jealousy returned. She sniffed my shirts, tracked my movements, even snooped through my phone.
One night, I caught her red-handed.
“Emily what are you doing?”
She flinched, tossing my phone aside. “Just checking something.”
I nodded at her own phonecharged and untouched. “Yours dead, is it?”
The screen lit up with a message.
“Really? Lying too now?” I exhaled sharply. “Found anything interesting, Sherlock?”
She shook her head.
I started packing.
“Please!” she begged. “Ill stop!”
“No, Emily. I forgave you once. Not again.”
Within half an hour, I was gone.
—
**Lesson learned:** Without trust, love collapses. Emily feared Id betray her like Id betrayed my exbut *she* chose that risk. In the end, suspicion destroyed what jealousy couldnt.
Love cant thrive where doubt lives. And that, more than anything, was her undoing.
