“Well done, Emily. Found your destiny.”
Emily had been the most inconspicuous guest at Marinas birthday party. The girls had studied together at college. Marina had generously invited everyone she could think of, but most of the other girls had gone home for the weekendback to their villages. Emily, shy and quiet, had mustered the courage to accept the invitation.
She never went anywhere, after all, and shed just turned eighteen, same as Marina. But unlike Marina, Emily hadnt celebrated her own birthday with a crowd.
She didnt really have close friends, and her parents had persuaded her to keep it simplejust a quiet evening at home with her grandparents.
*So, my fifth birthday and my eighteenthno difference,* shed thought glumly.
Of course, she loved her family, but she couldnt help wondering when shed finally feel grown-up and independent. When would a boy notice her quiet beauty, her gentle nature?
Emily dreamed of romance but felt awkward in her own skin. She wasnt bold like Marina or her friend Sophie. Those girls wore makeup without hesitation, dressed fashionablysometimes even provocativelyand didnt care when their college lecturers scolded them.
Meanwhile, Emilys outfits were still picked by her mum, and her jumpers were knitted by her granwho took offence whenever Emily didnt wear them. But how could she? Grans sweaters were hopelessly old-fashioned, so Emily only wore them at home, and even then, only in winter.
Tonight, Marinas flat was packed with their college friendstwelve of them in total. Once dinner was over and the music started, Emily slipped outside and sat on the bench by the entrance.
No one even noticed shed gone. She was shy around unfamiliar lads, though to be fair, none of them had paid her any attention. Was that what hurt the most?
Emily checked her watch.
*I should probably head home. Mums bound to be worrying. I promised not to stay late*
Just then, a lad stepped out of the buildingnot one of Marinas guests.
He sat at the far end of the bench and sighed, glancing up at Marinas second-floor window. Laughter and music drifted down.
“You from there?” he suddenly asked. Emily nodded toward the window.
“So, hows Marina? Dancing? Having a good time?” His voice was quiet, his eyes sad.
This time, Emily dared to ask, “Cant you hear them? Yeah, theyre enjoying themselves.”
“Well, it is a birthday party,” he replied. “Unlike mine. Didnt even celebrate, really. Just tea and cake with the family. Like I was still in primary school.”
Emily raised her eyebrows. “Mine was the same. Are you friends with her?” She gestured toward the window.
“Sort of. Id like to be, but she barely notices me. Didnt even invite me tonight, and weve been neighbours for years. She knows how I feel about her.”
He fell silent. Emily sighed in understanding, then suddenly said, “Dont worry. I feel the same. But whats the point? Nobody notices anyway. I just walked out, and no one cared. Im practically invisible. Whether Im there or notno one gives a toss.”
“Come on, thats not true,” he tried to reassure her. “Though maybe youre right. Guess there are people like us. Unlucky.”
“No, not unlucky. Just unnoticed. Unobtrusive, maybe. But theres a sort of freedom in that.”
“You think?” He looked surprised. “Im Paul, by the way. And you?”
“Emily.”
For a while, they listened to the music, stealing glances at the window. Maybe, deep down, they both hoped Marina would lean out and call them back insideto dance, to laugh. But no one came.
“Nice meeting you,” Emily said politely, “but Id better get going. Promised I wouldnt stay out late.”
“Let me walk you, at least to the bus stop.”
They strolled through the park, chatting, smiling without meaning to.
Paul realised, with a jolt, that his attention pleased her. She was *happy* he was talking to herhe could see it in the blush on her cheeks, in the way she looked away when he admired her long lashes.
So he joked, told every funny story he could remember, anything to keep her laughing, to stretch the moment.
At the bus stop, Emily thanked him and said goodbye, but Paul waited stubbornly until her bus arrived. Emily “accidentally” let the first one pass and only boarded the second.
As the bus pulled away, she waved at him like they were old friends.
He stood there a while longer, unable to leave, as if shed enchanted himthis sweet girl with bright eyes and dimpled cheeks.
Eventually, Paul turned and walked homeonly to realise, with sudden clarity, that he *needed* to see her again. And yet, he hadnt taken her number, hadnt even asked where she lived. Was it too forward? Too awkward?
The next morning, Paul rushed straight to Marinas flat. He took the stairs two at a time and knocked.
Marina opened the door, frowning. “Not *again*. Im not going out with you, Paul. Ive told you”
“No, its not that,” he stammered. “I just need your classmates number. She was here last night. Left something on the bench. Can you give me her phone number?”
“Whose?”
“Emily.”
“*Emily?*” Marina blinked. “Oh, you mean *Em*. Blimey. Fine, hold on.”
A few minutes later, she handed him a slip of paper. “Romeos got his Juliet. Whod have thought? Quiet little Em.” She smirked and shut the door.
Paul clutched the note like a treasure and hurried home.
He spent all day rehearsing what to say. By evening, he finally called.
He asked her out again, promised ice cream. To his delight, Emily agreed instantlyas if shed been waiting. Her voice was softer over the phone, warmer. Or maybe that was just him.
They wandered the park, ate ice cream, talked for hours. Their personalities, their interestsso much in common.
“Next time, *Im* inviting *you*,” Emily said boldly as they parted. “But not the park. The cinema. Fancy it?”
From then on, they were inseparable. Cinema trips, museum visits, even weekend getawayswithin a year, everyone saw them as practically engaged.
Two years after that bench, they married.
Emilys mother wept that she was too young, but her gran just nodded approvingly. “Well done, love. Found your destiny and settled down. Smart girl. No need to chase after other lads when youve got a good one like Paul. He dotes on her. What more could you want?”
“Whod have thought our quiet Emily would marry first?” her classmates murmured. “And look how happy he isglowing.”
But both of them glowed. In each other, theyd found understanding, care, and the love theyd both dreamed of.
Years later, theyd still smile remembering that bench by the entrancethe one that brought them together for life.
