Emma
Emma sat quietly in the back seat of the car as the city passed by outside the window.
She watched people walking freely on the streets. Some laughed. Some argued. Some looked tired. Yet they all seemed to belong to themselves.
She wondered when she had stopped feeling that way.
"Emma?"
Lisa's voice pulled her back.
"Yes?" Emma replied.
"You've been quiet since the café," Lisa said gently.
Emma looked at her friend. "I didn't mean to be."
Lisa studied her face carefully. "You met him again, didn't you?"
Emma hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."
Lisa did not look shocked. "I could tell. You look lighter. And scared at the same time."
Emma smiled faintly. "That obvious?"
Lisa sighed. "You never look like that with Andrew."
Emma turned her head back to the window. "Andrew makes plans. Trevor asks questions."
Lisa stayed quiet for a moment. Then she said, "You know this can't stay hidden forever."
"I know," Emma replied softly.
At the office, Emma tried to focus on work. She reviewed designs, approved budgets, and answered emails. But her thoughts kept drifting.
Trevor's calm voice. His honest words. The way he spoke about building something fair.
It stayed with her.
Her phone buzzed.
Andrew.
She did not answer.
Minutes later, he walked into her office without knocking.
"We need to talk," Andrew said.
Lisa stood up immediately. "I'll give you space."
As Lisa left, Andrew closed the door behind him.
"You didn't answer my calls," he said.
"I was busy," Emma replied calmly.
Andrew crossed his arms. "Busy doing what?"
Emma looked up at him. "Working. Like always."
Andrew stared at her for a long moment. "You've changed."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "People grow."
Andrew leaned forward. "Not like this. You've been distant. Quiet. Avoiding plans."
Emma stood up slowly. "Because I'm tired of plans being made for me."
Andrew's expression hardened. "Everything I do is for us."
"For you," Emma corrected.
Andrew laughed sharply. "You're being unreasonable."
Emma met his eyes. "I'm being honest."
The silence between them felt heavy.
"Is there someone else?" Andrew asked suddenly.
Emma's heart skipped, but her face stayed calm. "Why would you ask that?"
Andrew stepped closer. "Because I know when something doesn't belong to me anymore."
Emma took a deep breath. "I don't belong to anyone."
Andrew's jaw tightened. "Be careful, Emma."
"With what?" she asked.
"With ruining everything we've built."
Emma's voice stayed steady. "If it can be ruined by truth, then it was never strong."
Andrew said nothing. He turned and walked out.
That night, Emma returned home exhausted.
She removed her jacket and sat on the couch without turning on the lights. The quiet felt loud.
She thought of Trevor again.
Not as an escape.
But as a mirror.
Someone who wanted freedom as much as she did.
Her phone buzzed. A message.
Unknown Number: I hope your day went well. — Trevor
Emma stared at the screen for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
Emma: it was hard ,but better now
The reply came quickly.
Trevor: I'm glad.
She held the phone close, feeling something warm in her chest.
A whisper.