We Met, Yet We Did Not Understand
“Youre not going to be late, are you? What time are you leaving, Daniel?! Daniel” Emily shook her husband by the shoulder, but he pretended to sleep, waving his hand as if to say he had no intention of waking up and wouldnt be late anyway. Emily glanced at her phoneit was barely seven in the morning.
*Why did I wake up so early on a Saturday?! Ive got nothing to do, I packed his bag yesterday* Emily thought to herself, considering slipping back under the warm duvet, when suddenly
Suddenly, that strange, creeping unease seized her again, the one that had haunted her more and more lately. On paper, there was nothing to worry about: her husband beside her, a flat in the city centre, tastefully renovated, designer furniture, expensive appliances. Daniel had a car, Emilyanother. Theyd recently bought a house in a gated community on the outskirts. They had everything, in a word.
Most people could only dream of such things. Try living in rented flats, commuting by bus, juggling childrens homework in the evenings, cooking dinner for everyone, paying off loans, scraping together school fees Just as you drift off, the alarm blares, and the whole cycle begins again. *Id love to have your problems! What kind of absurd premonition is this?! What exactly?!*
Yes, that same feeling! Emily had learned to recognise it by now. A baseless anxiety, a sharp twist in her chest, the foreboding of disaster, the sense that something vital was slipping through her fingers. It came out of nowhere and vanished just as suddenly. It left her alone for a while, then returned.
And this morning, that same unpleasant feeling surged uninvited into Emilys heart once more. She climbed out of bed, glanced again at her sleeping husband, and went to the kitchen. Daniel was leaving for another business trip. How theyd been tormenting him lately! A new boss had taken over a year and a half agohis salary had risen sharply, the company he worked for was large and promising. He was one of their best employees, a department head. But this job took too much of his time! And now they kept sending him away, even on weekends.
Emily made breakfast and returned to wake him.
“Daniel, come on, are you getting up or not?! Move, or youll be late. Didnt you say you were leaving this afternoon?”
“Yeah. After” Daniel mumbled, still half-asleep, before finally sitting up.
“Come on, breakfast is ready.”
“Mhm.” he grunted, still drowsy, and followed her to the kitchen.
At the table, the man immediately buried himself in his phone. Emily had noticed lately that she and her husband barely spoke anymore, growing more distant by the day. No, they werent fighting. Everything was *perfect*he still brought her flowers now and then, sometimes she managed to convince him to go out for dinner, and Daniel would agree. They could stroll in the park, visit friends, catch a film, but nothing was the same as before.
“Daniel, take me with you on this trip?” Emily asked suddenly.
“Mhm.” Daniel replied without looking up.
“I mean it, whats the big deal? Youll be at a hotel, wont you? Youll be with colleagues during the day, with me in the evening.”
“What?! No! What do you mean, with me?!” Daniel jolted as the words registered.
“Why not? Whats so difficult? Youre driving, arent you?”
“Yeah, Im driving. But what would you even do there? Its the weekend, rest at home. Ill be back Monday or Tuesday.”
“Well, what? Ive never been to that town. I could explore, visit shops maybe museums”
“Oh, come off it! Its a backwater, theres nothing interesting! Dont we have enough shops here?! One on every corner!”
“Daniel, Im bored here! I wouldnt be in your way” Emily pleaded.
“Emily, no! If you want a holiday, book a ticket and go!” Daniel snapped.
“Alone? I want to go with you! Were husband and wife, in case youve forgotten!”
“Emily, not this again! Ive told you a hundred timesworks insane right now! The boss is a nightmare! Its not my fault they keep sending me away on weekends!”
“Funny how its always you! Last week I saw Robert from your office at the mall with his wife and kids. But somehow, you were *working*!” Emily hadnt meant to argue, especially before he left, but the words spilled out.
“Oh, lets tally up whos been where now, shall we? Thanks for breakfast!” Daniel stood and stalked off to the bathroom.
Emily tidied up while Daniel watched telly. Then she packed him sandwiches and tea in a thermos for the road.
“Emily, wheres the bag?” Daniel called from the hallway.
“On the dresser.” she replied flatly.
“Right. Im off. Dont be cross, theres really nothing to do there.”
“Its fine, Im not cross. Bye.”
Daniel left, and Emily stayed. It was Saturdayshe could call one of her friends, meet for dinner somewhere nice, have a proper chat.
But who to call? Julia had a husband and two kidsno chance shed go out! Mary had bought a cottage in the countryside and barely came to town now. Catherine had gone off to “conquer” Londonno word from her in ages! They all had their own problems, their own worries, their own children
Emily was nearly thirty-eight, and she and Daniel had no children. Because of a mistake in her youtha botched procedure. Back then, theyd only just moved in together, renting a cramped flat. Fresh out of uni, their salaries were meagre.
A few years later, Emily and Leonard celebrated their anniversary, and little Katrina, now a teenager, raised a toast to her stepmother, her eyes shimmering with tears: “Thank you, Mum, for coming into our lives and making us a whole family again.”
