Episode Three: The Woman in the Photograph
941 Words
I stared at her, unable to breathe.
The café suddenly felt too small, too warm, too loud.
Her words repeated endlessly inside my head.
There’s another woman too.
No.
No, this couldn’t be happening.
I looked back down at the photograph trembling in my hands. Ethan’s arm rested comfortably around her waist, his smile relaxed and genuine in a way I had not seen in months.
Maybe even years.
The date at the bottom blurred through the tears building in my eyes.
Three weeks ago.
Three weeks ago, I had stayed awake until midnight waiting for my husband to come home while he texted me excuses about work and meetings.
And the entire time…
He had been with her.
My chest tightened so painfully it almost felt impossible to sit upright.
The woman across from me looked uncomfortable now, guilty even.
I didn’t know about you, she said softly. If I had known he was married, I never would’ve
Stop.
My voice came out weaker than I intended.
I couldn’t listen to apologies right now.
Not when my entire marriage was collapsing in front of me.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to look at her again.
What’s your name?
Sophia, she answered quietly.
I nodded slowly.
How long were you together?
Her expression shifted slightly, like she was afraid to answer.
Almost six months.
The words hit me harder than I expected.
Six months.
Six whole months.
I tried counting backward in my head, remembering what my marriage looked like six months ago.
That was around the time Ethan stopped touching me in his sleep.
Around the time he stopped asking if I had eaten.
Around the time silence truly settled between us.
While I was mourning our marriage
He was building another relationship behind my back.
My fingers tightened around the photograph.
Did he love you? I asked before I could stop myself.
Sophia hesitated.
Then she looked down.
I think he tried to.
That answer hurt more than if she had simply said yes.
Because it meant Ethan had given pieces of himself to someone else while I sat at home wondering why I was no longer enough.
Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
Not here.
Not in front of a stranger.
Sophia reached into her bag again and slowly pulled out her phone.
There’s more, she whispered.
My stomach dropped.
She turned the screen toward me.
Messages.
Dozens of them.
Messages from Ethan.
My eyes scanned the words while my heartbeat thundered painfully inside my chest.
I miss you already.
Last night was perfect.
I wish I didn’t have to go home yet.
Home.
He texted another woman about wishing he didn’t have to come home to me.
Something inside me cracked quietly.
I stared at the screen until the words became blurry.
Then one message caught my attention.
Once everything settles, we won’t have to hide anymore.
I froze.
Hide anymore.
What did that mean?
Was Ethan planning to leave me?
The thought made my entire body go cold.
Sophia quickly locked her phone and looked at me carefully.
I ended things yesterday, she said softly. That’s why I messaged you.
I looked up sharply.
Why?
Her eyes filled with guilt.
Because I realized something was wrong when he refused to let me visit his house. Then yesterday, I followed him after he left my apartment.
My breathing slowed painfully.
And I saw him come here… to you.
Silence fell between us again.
But this silence was different.
This one carried destruction.
I looked down at the photo still shaking in my hands.
I remembered my wedding day suddenly.
The way Ethan looked at me while promising forever.
The way I believed every word.
The way I thought I was safe with him.
How foolish I felt now.
I stood up too quickly, nearly knocking the chair backward.
Lila,Sophia began softly.
I can’t do this right now, I interrupted.
My voice trembled despite my efforts to stay calm.
I grabbed my bag and turned away before she could stop me.
The cool evening air hit my face the moment I stepped outside the café, but it did nothing to steady me.
I walked aimlessly down the street, my vision blurred with tears I could no longer hold back.
People passed around me laughing, talking, living normal lives while mine felt like it had just shattered beyond repair.
I couldn’t understand how Ethan had done this to me so easily.
How he came home every night pretending nothing was wrong.
How he looked into my eyes while lying so effortlessly.
My phone buzzed suddenly in my hand.
I almost ignored it.
But when I looked at the screen, my heart stopped.
Ethan.
Calling.
For a moment, I simply stared at his name.
Then I answered.
Where are you? he asked immediately.
His voice sounded tense.
I wiped my tears quickly before speaking.
Out.
There was a pause.
Then he sighed softly.
Lila, we need to talk when you get home.
A strange feeling settled heavily in my chest.
Talk about what? I asked quietly.
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then Ethan said something that made my blood run cold.
Because someone sent me pictures of you meeting Sophia tonight.
I stopped walking instantly.
Fear crawled slowly down my spine.
How did he know?
Before I could answer, Ethan spoke again, his voice lower now.
Come home, Lila.
There was something in his tone that terrified me.
Not guilt.
Not regret.
Something darker.
And suddenly, for the first time since this nightmare began
I realized I might not know my husband at all.
- Writer
