Amelia judges her

Amelia didn’t move. Her hand recoiled from May’s. “What do you mean, you were with someone?” she asked sharply.

A few heads turned in their direction, and May’s pulse quickened. She felt like she had been thrown out a window. “I mean—what I said. I, uh, I slept with another man,” she said in hushed tones.

Amelia blinked, stunned into silence for a moment. Then, her face hardened. “May, what the hell?” she hissed. “You’re married to Roger. You remember what it was like when Will cheated on me. What were you thinking?”

May flinched. “I wasn’t thinking. It just happened.”

“‘It just happened’? Jesus, May!” May felt the weight of each word like blows to her chest. “Does Roger know?”

“No!” May said, her heart racing. “I don’t know what to do. I’m scared.”

Amelia shook her head, looking disgusted. “You should be.” She threw her napkin down on the table. “You’ve been together ten years and this is how you celebrate it? I don’t even know who you are right now.”

Tears started to form in May’s eyes. Amelia barely noticed. “I’m sorry, okay?” May said. “I don’t know what came over me. Please, I need my friend.”

Amelia stood up, grabbing her bag. “I just remembered. I have an appointment.” She didn’t stop or even look back as May pleaded for her to stay. By the time she reached the restaurant’s entrance, she saw her friend already at the curb, hailing a cab. She watched helplessly as Amelia climbed inside the first one that appeared, slamming the door shut behind her. She shouted after her, but the taxi was pulling away. What if she told Roger? What if she told everyone? She stood frozen on the sidewalk, wiping tears from her cheeks, trying to think. What was she supposed to do now?