I don’t even want to get married because of this—I don’t trust women! And don’t you dare foolishly tear our family apart, you hear me?

“I dont even want to get married because of it. I dont trust women! And dont you dare wreck your family over some silly nonsense, you hear me?”

Id just finished my scrambled eggs and was sipping the last of my coffee when my wife, flushing red, asked me in a shaky, awkward voice:

“Are you seeing someone else?”

“What makes you think”

“Dont lie to me, Simon. Just tell me the truth.”

Now it was my turn to go redsomething that rarely happens, only when I cant bring myself to tell the truth but refuse to lie.

“You dont have to say anything. I already know.”

I bolted outside like Id been scalded. All day at work, I was a nervous wreck, furious with myself. The situation had thrown me off completely, forcing me to make a decision I wasnt ready for. I couldnt lie to my wifeshe meant too much to me.

Yes, there was another woman. Young, beautiful, stunningyoud probably laughlike Id lost my mind, all rationality gone, just testosterone taking over.

But youd be wrong. She wasnt younger or more beautiful than my wife. She was an old classmate. My first, unrequited love. An unresolved chapter, you could say. Wed bumped into each other after years.

“Si, is that you? Blimey, I barely recognised you. Proper London gent now!”

I froze. Standing in front of me, smirking, was Christine.

For a moment, I just stood there like an idiot, feeling completely flustered. She looked me up and downmy tormentor from school (shed saddled me with all sorts of nicknames everyone else picked up. “Si” was one of them).

“Come on, lets grab a coffee, catch up. Mini school reunion. Theres another old friend popping out of the shops any minute.”

Before I could reply, out she walkedSienna. Blonde, delicate, soft-spoken. The second she saw me, she smiled.

“Simon Spencer, is that really you?” she asked in that painfully familiar, melodic voice. “How many years has it been?”

All I could do was smile back, a lump in my throat from the shock.

Of course, I took them to a café. We had a brilliant chat, and the next day, unable to shake the emotions, I met Sienna after work.

She wasnt surprisedacted like it was expected. We sat in a café, just the two of us this time, and then I ended up at her place and that was it.

It had been six months now, and the whole time, Id been living in two worlds. Onemy family: my kids, Oliver and little Emily, who I adored, and my wife, whom I loved and still loved.

Yes, loved. The love hadnt gone anywhereit had just dulled slightly, buried under routine.

The other world? Sienna. A surge of emotions, the thrill of possession, passion. If I couldve, Id have kept diving back and forth between the two. Which is why, when my wife figured it out at the worst possible time, I wasnt ready.

By the end of the day, the only thought I had was: I need a break. A real onenot just from one of them. Time to think and make a final choice.

I was about to call my wife, Rebecca, but she beat me to it.

“Simon, Im taking the kids to stay with my parents for a while. I need space,” she said. “Just promise me one thingstay in touch with Emily and Oliver. They love you, and I dont want them hurt before they have to be.”

Even more lost, I went home. When Id imagined making a decision, it hadnt occurred to me that my wife might make one tooand not necessarily in my favour. But fair enough. She had every right.

For days, I thought about Sienna (too fresh, too bright) and Rebecca (my wife). I only remembered the good thingsI didnt want to lose either of them.

I dont know why, but at some point, I felt like calling an old school friend, Greg. Wed been mates since school, even served in the army together. Years ago, wed both fancied Sienna unsuccessfully. Maybe thats why I rang him.

We arranged to meet. I invited him overit was pouring outside, and no one wanted to sit in some dreary pub. Greg wasnt married, still lived with his parents, and I was temporarily “free,” so if needed, he could crash at mine.

After work, I stopped by the shop, grabbed some frozen dumplings, sausages, and a bottle (what else do blokes need?), then headed home to wait for him.

“Your place is lovely! Proper cosy. Chuffed for you, mate. When am I getting my own little nest, eh? Your missus got any single friends?” Greg grinned, shaking my hand while glancing around.

We went to the kitchen. Id already chopped everything up, laid out plates and forksjust had to boil the dumplings.

“Wheres Rebecca?” Greg frowned. “Wanted to pay my respects, but its just you? Why didnt you say? I brought cake and chocolates”

“Dont worry, well eat them. Theyre at her parents just for a bit. Right, first round!”

We had one. Then another. And only after that did I tell Greg about Sienna, the whirlwind affair, and my mess. Greg stayed quietcompletely unlike him.

“Whats with the silence? You fancied Sienna too. Still do?”

“Nah, not at all! Definitely not now,” Greg laughed awkwardly. “Listen, mateyou dont want this. Trust me.”

“And whys that?” I snapped. Back then, she barely noticed either of us, and if there was gossip, I wasnt interested.

“I lived with her for six months, Simon,” Greg said wearily. She was divorced by then. Know who her ex was? Nick Pearsonremember him?

“Pearson? Had no idea. She said she was divorced, never mentioned the ex. Yeah, I remember her eyeing him. Bloke had all the girls after him.”

“Want me to spell it out?”

“Just say it.” I braced myself, suddenly sober. Whatever was coming, I wouldnt like it.

“Unlike you, I didnt just stare at herI wrote notes, carried her bag when she let me, even cornered her a couple times in the stairwell. No luck. She wanted Pearson. Bloke was out of our league. Sienna fought for him like we fought for her.”

“They marriedperfect couple, supposedly. Local golden pair. Seemed happy at first, till Sienna started nagging him about money. Didnt want to live with his mum, wanted their own place, furniture, the lot. So he went off to Europe for workdriving second-hand imports. Started making decent cash, but on one trip, he had a bad crash. Took ages to put him back together.”

“Spent every penny hed saved on surgeries. She stuck by himIll give her that. Got him back on his feet. Then suddenly, she had a flat. Left him.”

“We bumped into each other or did we? I was leaving work, and there she was with Christineher old mate. No idea what they were doing there, nowhere near her usual spots.”

“We had coffee, then well, you know. Felt like I was flying! Was ready to propose! Then she tells me shes off for two weekswork trip to Manchester. Like an idiot, I believed her.”

“She comes back with a Mediterranean tan. When I asked, she said: Place was dull, so I hit the sunbed and spa in my free time.”

“I got jealous, started keeping tabs, especially when she kept cancelling plans. And guess what? I caught her. Big Jeep pulls up, out she hopswith some bloke. Not some young stud, either. Bloke in his sixties. Lost it, went at himtook three blokes to pull me off.”

“Nearly got locked upturns out the old bloke was some bigwig. Only got off cause he didnt want his affair going publicflat hed bought her and all.”

“Thats my story. Pearsons got his own.”

Greg didnt seem keen to chat further. He got up, headed for the hall to grab his coat. I didnt stop him but walked him out.

“Thats why Im not getting married. Dont trust women. And dont you wreck your family over this, you hear?” he said before leaving.

We shook hands, and he was gone.

A heavy sadness settled over me. I collapsed onto the bed, thinking about how fragile life, happiness, and love could be. About a dream Id carried for years, buried deep, that hadironicallycome true.

That dream had been like a