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Galia and Her Friend Were Strolling in the Park When Suddenly They Spotted a Man and a Woman.
Emily and her friend strolled through the park when they suddenly spotted a man and a woman embracing. He whispered something into her ear, and she smiled with pure joy. Emily stared, wide-eyed, unable to look away.
“Emily, whats wrong? Emily!” her friend gasped.
“Nothing. Lets go,” Emily muttered abruptly.
The girls said their goodbyes. As Emily walked home, her mind reeledthis couldnt be happening.
“Dad how could you? How could you do this to Mum?” Her voice shook with disbelief.
Earlier, Emily had convinced her friend Lizzie to take a detour through the park.
“Lizzie, lets go for a walk while its still light!”
“Fine, but lets not linger,” Lizzie agreed.
The park wasnt on their way, but why not enjoy the evening?
They ambled along the path, glancing enviously at happy couples lost in their own worlds. No one paid them any mind.
Then, turning down a quieter lane, they saw them againthe man and woman, wrapped in each others arms. Though his back was turned, his greying hair betrayed his age.
Lizzie barely noticed, but Emily froze, her breath catching.
“Emily, what is it? Emily!”
“Its nothing. Come on,” Emily snapped, quickening her pace.
They left the park in silence. Emily trudged home, lost in thought, barely murmuring a farewell before parting ways.
Her mind raced. That womans radiant smile, her fathers whispered wordshow could he not see his own daughter watching?
“Dad I always believed you were perfect. But this? How could you?”
At home, her mother scowled.
“Sit down. Dinners ready,” she grumbled. “You and your fathernever on time.”
“Just washing my hands,” Emily replied flatly.
She lingered in the bathroom, avoiding the dining room. Her father still wasnt home.
Later, hunched over her laptop, the image of them haunted her. Was deceit just part of adulthood? Did he really need someone else?
“Does she even know I exist?”
The front door creaked open.
“Sorry, love. Long day,” her father called.
“Funny,” her mother shot back, “your ‘long days’ used to only happen at months end.”
“Jen, not now.”
He entered Emilys room, reaching to kiss her. She shoved him away.
“Dinners getting cold.”
“Emily, whats wrong?”
“Nothing. But what about you?”
He hesitated, then left without another word.
That night, Emily plotted.
Morning came with raised voices.
“Daniel, where are you going?” her mother demanded.
“Work. Urgent.”
“Its Saturday. You could spend time with your family.”
“Back by lunch. Well go out then.”
Emily emerged, feigning a yawn.
“And you?” her mother pressed.
“Extra classes. Im late.”
She bolted from the kitchen, ignoring her mothers protests.
Her father waited in the hall.
“Ill walk you.”
Her mother called after her, “Emily, at least drink your tea!”
“Ill wait,” her father said, oddly cheerful.
Emily gulped the tea and hurried out.
They walked in tense silence.
“Are you upset with me?” he ventured.
“No, Dad. Just teenage stuff,” she lied, then hesitated. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“More than anything?”
He stiffened, eyeing her warily.
“More than anything.”
They smiled, but neither met the others gaze.
“See you at lunch,” she said, veering off.
Once he was out of sight, she doubled back, trailing him.
Her heart sank as he took a different route.
After a long walk, he stopped outside a flat, phoning someone.
A woman emerged moments later. Emilys breath hitched.
“Shes beautiful,” she whispered. “Am I not enough?”
The woman kissed her father, and they strolled arm in arm into a secluded garden.
Emily watched, fists clenched, as they talkedthen kissed.
When they returned, the woman vanished inside.
Emily waited.
The woman reappeared, lugging a bin bag. Emily intercepted her.
“Hi.”
The woman startled. “Can I help you?”
“If you meet Daniel again, youll regret it.”
“Who *are* you?”
“Call him. Now.”
Bewildered, the woman dialled.
“Claire, whats wrong?” her fathers voice crackled.
“Daniel, we cant see each other anymore.”
“Why?”
“You have a family. Im leaving after uni.”
Emily heard the relief in his voice.
“Claire, if youre sure”
“Goodbye, Daniel.”
She hung up.
That evening, Emily found her parents chatting over dinner.
“Why so happy?” her mother asked.
“Starving,” Emily deflected.
“Emily,” her father pressed, “whats going on?”
“Do you love me?”
“Of course.”
“And Mum?”
A pause. Then, firmly
“I love your mother too.”
Emily smiled.
He meant it.
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