For the first time Lucy spots Andrew at work. He walks in to interview for a place in the procurement team, and she just at that moment darts into the HR office.
Shes there to sign a paperwork order, but when she catches sight of the handsome visitor she pauses.
Good-looking, isnt he? flashes through her mind, and confident. You can tell right away You dont see men like that any more. She listens to the conversation. Right the procurement department so well meet soon enough.
The next day the stranger shows up in the accounts office. He greets everyone cheerfully, eyes the staff with genuine interest. His gaze lingers on Lucy
Lucy notices, a strange shiver runs through her body. Well, thats something, she thinks, embarrassed, hes looking at me Weve seen guys like that before.
Whether theyre common or rare, the story doesnt say, but Lucy quickly realises that Andrew isnt like the others, certainly not like her former suitors.
Andrew always looks her straight in the eyes. Gently. Attentively. He never rushes anywhere. He solves problems with ease, never waiting to be asked, yet he never imposes. He knows how to fade into the background, and somehow appears exactly when she needs him most.
All of this leaves an indelible impression on Lucy. She falls in love completely and irrevocably.
Of course she does a man like that is only a dream.
A few months later they move in together. Six months after that they marry. When their son is born a carbon copy of Andrew Lucy finally understands what happiness feels like.
At night she leans into her husband and whispers:
Dont you think youll go anywhere, love? Ive tied you down for good?
I wasnt planning on leaving anyway, he replies, planting a kiss on her temple.
***
Lucy knows from the start that Andrew has a daughter from his first marriage. She asks about her, but hes reluctant to give details. One evening he finally opens up:
We havent spoken for years, I dont even have her contact. When Daisy was three, my ex, Laura, didnt want us to stay in touch. Now shes a teenager So, lets not dig up the past.
Lucy shrugs:
Good enough. But if you ever want to find her, just say the word. Ill support you.
He nods. Lucy asks no more questions. After all, Andrew is right everyone has a past.
***
One night Andrew comes home looking offkilter.
He slowly removes his jacket, walks to the kitchen without meeting Lucys eyes, and pours himself a glass of water, standing there with the cup in his hand.
Andrew, whats wrong? Lucy asks, alarmed.
He looks guilty, then suddenly, as if making a decision, says:
I I found Laura online. I messaged her to see how shes doing, how Daisys doing. Turns out Daisy wants to talk to me. We even had a short phone chat.
Lucy freezes.
Shes reminded him countless times about his daughter, but hearing the news now leaves her feeling as if something inside has broken.
Well wonderful! she exclaims, trying to mask her embarrassment, Im really happy for you!
Andrews face lights up. He needed to hear that. Lucy feels an unexpected weight settle over her life.
***
At first the calls are brief. He slips into another room, closes the door and says, Daisys shy.
Lucy is left alone in the kitchen, hearing his soft, affectionate voice. The velvety tone that, until recently, belonged only to her.
Then the former wife appears in her thoughts. The messages start short, then grow longer.
Lucys fingers instinctively reach for Andrews phone whenever he leaves it unattended.
She reads the texts, sees pictures of a girl she doesnt know
Between the lines she detects the sugary, poisonous nectar: Were here, were close, were waiting for you
Every time Andrew takes his phone to another room, she tells herself, Hes just talking to his daughter, dont overthink it.
But one evening, passing the hallway, she hears a name.
Laura
Her exwife
From that moment her own private hell takes shape.
Lucy hates herself for what she does, yet she cant stop. She watches him smile at the screen, hold his breath while deciding what to type back.
Every glance, gesture, word feels like a betrayal. Shes convinced hes living two lives.
Day after day Lucy fans the flames of jealousy. Everything irritates her.
You dont value me at all! she erupts one night as Andrew absentmindedly scrolls through his phone.
Whats happening, Lucy? Andrew looks at her, genuinely puzzled.
Dont play dumb! I see everything! Youre still chatting with her! she hisses.
Who her? he asks, genuinely baffled.
And that only fuels her anger.
Each ring of his phone feels like an electric shock. Any overtime at work becomes proof of infidelity.
She becomes a spy in her own home, because she loves him to the point of selfdestruction.
He says nothing, offers no explanations, as if he cant see her torment. Its so unlike him.
***
Their arguments become frequent, often over nothing. Tiny grievances they once ignored swell into a global problem.
Lucy shouts that Andrew no longer hears her, that his gaze has changed, that her very presence seems to weigh on him.
In her mind a choking thought repeats:
If he decides to go, theres a place that loves him, waiting for him.
She once felt secure in her marriage. Now the house she cherished feels unsafe.
At night she lies awake, eyes wide, thinking:
What if one day he chooses the past over us?
In the morning she scolds herself, trying to convince herself, Were a family. No. Hes not that kind of man.
The more she tells herself the more she fears his choice.
***
One evening Andrew leaves his phone on the kitchen counter and goes to bathe their son. The screen lights up with a notification: Laura
Lucys fingers tremble, her heart tightens, but she does not open the message. Shes afraid of what she might read. The fear has become normal for her.
Why are you so off today? Andrew asks later, after putting the baby to sleep.
Everythings fine, she replies too quickly.
He studies her for a long moment, as if he senses something, but says nothing.
When he finally drifts to sleep, Lucy lies quietly beside him, listening to his steady, familiar breathing. She suddenly imagines that someone else might soon be listening to that same rhythm.
The thought burns so fiercely that she gets up, walks to the kitchen, sits on a stool, and clenches her fists.
For the first time she feels replaceable.
Andrew walks in. She looks at him with tearfilled eyes:
Im scared youll leave one day
He crouches, takes her hands in his.
Where would I go? he asks slowly, as if the question itself is new.
…to them, she whispers, looking away.
He stays silent. In that pause she hears the most terrifying sound the absence of protest, the lack of a joke. The silence is louder than any answer.
***
Then the night comes that changes everything.
Andrew simply doesnt come home. He doesnt call, doesnt text. His phone is out of signal range.
Lucy sits alone in the dark kitchen, picturing them together, replaying countless happy scenes in her mind, all without her.
By morning her heart feels like a lump of ice.
She opens her laptop. Her fingers start typing on their own. She writes to Laura
She writes and cries, not noticing the tears, writing desperately as if clinging to a lifeline.
She writes about love, jealousy, humiliation, begging for one thing: Tell me the truth!
She hits send, feeling a strange relief and an empty void.
Shes made her move. Now she just waits.
***
All day Lucy cant sit still. She waits, rehearses the conversation shell have when Andrew finally returns, practising how shell confront him, how shell lay everything out.
She walks around the flat, touches objects, mechanically feeds her son, but inside she is just waiting for judgment.
***
He finally walks in late, almost at midnight, pale and exhausted.
He sits opposite her in silence.
Why did you do that? his voice is low, tired.
Lucy flinches.
What did I do?
I read your letter. Youve got it all wrong.
No way! Lucy snaps, losing the last shred of composure, Then explain it! Are you going back to her? Old love never rusts, they say? Why are you silent? Dont hide behind the phone! How could you read my letter? Did she suggest it? Did she want to expose my weakness? Im too lazy to answer!
She wont answer you, Lucy, Andrew says quietly, Ill answer instead Everything will be fine if you dont ruin it yourself.
How convenient, Lucy retorts with a bitter smile, and very handy Fine, stop talking. Im not even interested anymore. I shouldnt have written to her.
Laura died, Andrew breathes out, last night. I was with her until the end.
Lucy thinks shes heard wrong. The world freezes.
Her breath catches, a cold spreads through her.
All her jealousy, suspicion, the poison inside her, collapses in an instant into dust.
She died? Lucy whispers, as if afraid to hear the answer.
Andrew nods.
It turns out shed been ill for a while, he says, She was glad I showed up. She never confessed right away. She wanted to see how wed handle things her and Daisy. She wasnt trying to get me back, Lucy. She only wanted Daisy not to be alone.
He sighs heavily.
Now you see why everything rests on you? Andrew looks at her, If you say no, Ill have to find a place for Daisy.
Are you talking about a childrens home? Lucys voice trembles with horror.
No, of course not. My family and Lauras family have relatives. I hope someone will take her in. Anyway, I cant decide without you
Lucy jumps up, shouting so sharply she startles herself, Dont even think about it! Your daughter will live with us! Understand? With us!
Andrew freezes, closes his eyes for a heartbeat. When he opens them, tears glisten.
I knew I believed youd say that, he whispers.
Lucy steps to him, presses her face into his chest. All her doubts and fears melt away.
Ahead lies a new, tough life, but Lucy feels no fear any longer.
She has made her choice.
