You Shouldn’t Have Aired Your Dirty Laundry in Public

Should I be airing my dirty laundry? Victoria mutters, eyes rimmed with dark circles.

Its getting late, youre drifting away, Sarah says, watching her friend fidget with the edge of a baby blanket. A tiny boy sleeps in his pram, his steady breathing the only sound breaking the hush.

Maybe hes swamped at work? Sarah offers gently.

What a load of rubbish, Victoria sobs, wiping a tear. He used to talk about his day, now hes as silent as a spy. He hides his phone from me. I feel like Ive become a stranger to him. After the birth my body changed the belly wont shrink, my hair is thinning Im convinced he doesnt love me any more.

Sarah places a hand on Victorias cold, clammy palm.

Dont be ridiculous. Youre a wonderful mum and a beautiful woman.

Victoria snorts. Sure Yesterday I asked him to take the pram for a walk while I whip up dinner. His reply? My head hurts from the babys crying. So Im the one who doesnt have a headache?

Sarahs lips press together. She has always thought Daniel, Victorias husband, a bit selfish, but Victoria refuses to see it.

Their son Arthur stirs and lets out a soft whimper. Victoria leaps up, rocking him.

Shhh, love, Mums here, she coos.

Sarah walks Victoria to the bus stop, promising to visit again soon.

On her way home through the city park, Sarah ponders the conversation, trying to think of a way to help. Suddenly she spots a familiar silhouette on a bench: broad shoulders, a distinctive gait. Its Daniel, flanked by a darkhaired woman in a red dress.

They sit cheektocheek, laughing, his head thrown back. The woman leans in, and Daniel looks at her with an intensity he hasnt shown Victoria in months.

Instinctively Sarah steps back behind a sturdy oak, her heart thudding. Could it be a colleague? A harmless encounter? Her doubt evaporates when Daniel wraps his arm around the strangers waist and pulls her close. She rises on tiptoe and kisses him.

Sarah shuts her eyes, then opens them to the same scene: Daniels kiss is passionate, far more fervent than anything he ever gave his wife. With trembling fingers she pulls out her phone, taps the camera button, and the shutter click booms louder than the distanceabout fifteen metresto the unsuspecting couple.

They keep kissing, then sit on the bench. The woman rests her head on Daniels shoulder as he strokes her hair and whispers something in her ear. Sarah snaps a few more pictures, then switches to video; the footage comes out blurry.

She darts out of the park, but the images replay in her mind all the way home: Victorias tearfilled eyes, baby Arthurs tiny face, Daniels betrayal. She cant shake the feeling of disbelief.

Back in her flat, she reviews the footage. Theres no doubtDaniel is cheating, and this isnt the first time, judging by how relaxed he seems.

All night Sarah tosses and turns, weighing her options. Should she tell Victoria? Shes already battling postnatal depression; this news could crush her. Should she keep silent, letting Victoria blame herself for a cold marriage? She recalls Victorias complaints: Daniels growing distance, his late nights, his lack of help with the baby. The pieces finally clickhes found an outlet elsewhere.

The next day at work Sarah cant focus. Colleagues ask her questions, but she answers vague.

During lunch she phones Victoria.

Hey, hows it going? Hows little Arthur?

Okay, but I barely sleptteeth are coming in. Daniel turned up late again, said there was a meeting.

Sarahs fists clench.

That evening she cant bear the strain and drives to her mothers house. Margaret, her mother, greets her with a worried look.

Whats wrong, love? You look exhausted.

Mom, I need advice.

They sit at the kitchen table. Sarah pulls up the photos and video on her phone.

This your husband? Margaret asks, eyebrows raised.

Yes. I stumbled on them in the park yesterday.

Margaret watches the footage, then sighs.

Right. What are you going to do?

I dont know. Tell Victoria? Shes barely holding on after the birth. Keep quiet? Then how can I look her in the eye?

Margaret pauses, kettle humming. If my own husband had cheated, Id want to know, no matter how painful the truth.

But Victorias so vulnerable

Thats exactly why she deserves the truth, Margaret says, returning to her seat. Every woman has a right to know whats happening at home, especially when a childs wellbeing is at stake. Who knows what else Daniel is up to.

Sarah shivers; she hadnt considered that angle.

Besides, Victoria is wasting her energy trying to win him back, while he treats her like a nanny. Its unfair.

What if she doesnt believe me?

Then at least you wont be haunted by the secret. Margaret places a hand on Sarahs shoulder. Do the right thing. How Victoria reacts is up to her.

The next morning Sarah drives to Victorias flat. Victoria greets her with a forced smile, though exhaustion drapes her shoulders and deep shadows linger under her eyes.

Thank God youre here! Im going nuts alone. Arthur finally fell asleep. Come on, Ill put the kettle on.

Sarah glances around: childrens toys scattered, dirty mugs on the table, evidence that Victoria is barely keeping afloat.

Did Daniel turn up late again? Sarah asks.

Yes. He said he was with a client. I didnt even know if hed had dinner.

Sarah searches for the words that will shatter her friends world.

Victoria, I have something important. Its hard to say, but you need to know.

Victorias face stiffens.

Whats happened?

Sarah opens the gallery on her phone.

I was walking through the park and saw Daniel. He wasnt alone.

She shows the first photo. Victoria leans in, frowning.

Thats Daniel and whos the woman?

I dont know, but watch the rest.

She plays the video. Daniel is kissing the stranger. Victoria watches in stunned silence, her complexion draining.

This isnt what I thought?

Im terrified, Victoria. Im so sorry.

Victoria replays the clip several times, each viewing paling her further.

Its an affair. Hes cheating on me. He hes doing this again, she whispers.

Exactly. And they look completely at ease.

Suddenly Victoria lunges, hurling the phone onto the sofa.

You did this! You were spying on him on purpose! You wanted to destroy my family! she screams.

Sarah recoils.

What? Victoria, I saw them by accident

Accident? Victoria laughs hysterically. Youve been jealous because I have a husband and a child! You wanted to ruin everything!

Tears stream down Victorias cheeks as she flails around the room, waving her arms.

You thought I didnt notice the way you looked at Daniel? You waited for this moment! she shrieks.

Victoria, calm down. This is absurd. I was trying to help

Help? she yells. Youve torn my family apart! I have a baby, and youre trying to break us!

From the next room, Arthurs cries rise, spurred by the shouting.

Now youve woken the baby! Get out! Leave right now! Victoria snarls.

Please, Victoria

Silence! I dont want to see you! Youre a traitor, a jealous witch! Get out!

Stunned, Sarah gathers her bag and heads for the door as Victorias accusations echo and Arthurs wail drifts from the nursery.

A few weeks later Sarahs friend Claire tells her what happened next.

Can you believe it? Victoria cornered Daniel, showed him the video, screamed, demanded explanations.

What did he say?

At first he claimed it was edited, then he exploded, saying he doesnt like her since the birth and that hes entitled to find happiness elsewhere.

Sarah clenches her phone.

Terrible

It gets worse. He told Victoria to move out of his flat, said he wont tolerate her tantrums. She had to pack and go to her mothers house with Arthur. The whole thing was a nightmareVictoria crying, Arthur screaming, Daniel shouting. Everyone in the building heard.

Sarah learns that Victoria and her son moved in with her mother, Gail, and spent two weeks there, sobbing and trying to comprehend how her life turned upside down.

Later, Victorias mother urges her to reconcile with Daniel for the sake of the grandchild. She convinces Victoria that men make mistakes, but eventually get their heads back together, and that a child deserves a whole family. She tells Victoria shes still young and beautiful, she can win him back.

Months after, Daniel calls Victoria, saying hes ready to forgive and let her returnprovided she stops the outbursts and drama. He repeats the old proverb, We shouldnt be airing our dirty laundry in public.

Victoria wavers. The betrayal wounds her deeply, but the fear of being alone with a baby terrifies her more. She has no job, no home, no money. She convinces herself that Arthur should grow up with his father.

Maternal instinct and fear of solitude win. Victoria packs her things and goes back to Daniel. He greets her calmly, even holds Arthur while she unloads suitcases, hoping she sees his remorse. He asks her to stay away from Sarah.

Victoria obeys and blames Sarah for everything, not Daniel. She cuts off all contact with Sarah, ignores her calls, deletes her messages, blocks her on every platform. She tells mutual friends her version of events, painting Sarah as the vengeful meddler who broke up their marriage.

Sarah is left questioning everything. Should she have stayed silent and let Victoria live in ignorance? Then her friend might have kept blaming herself for a failing marriage, and their friendship could have survived. Or was the painful truth the lesser evil?

Sarah never finds a clear answer. She only wanted to help, and in doing so she shattered a longstanding friendship and inflicted deep pain on someone she cared about. Now she carries that burden and vows never to pry into anyones relationship again. Never.